Synchronous vs Asynchronous Communication

Being in sync was the trend some time ago.

But it’s not the case anymore.

Just like the boy band, the times when 'n sync hit the tops are long gone.

Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't still people who belong to the fanbase. Trends evolve, and what's fashionable today may be forgotten tomorrow; likewise, tastes vary. What you enjoy might not be the most popular choice, but it isn't any less appropriate or any less aligned with your preferences. To each, his own.

Are we still discussing music? No; this point extends beyond that. The same principle applies to every area of your life.

This is about the flexibility to always choose what works best for you.

Freedom of choice is maybe the ninth wonder of the free, internet-based modern world.

Even when it comes to communication, there are a lot of options to choose between. Verbally and nonverbally, one to one or mediated, IRL or from a distance, by fax, email, telegram, letters sealed with a kiss, carrier pigeons. Just have your pick.

That's great news, because communication will always remain at the heart of every healthy and successful relationship, both personal and professional. It's encouraging to know there are tools designed to make your work easier and support your choices.

To make it all easier, let’s just group all options by reference to your goals.

Just ask yourself this: when do you expect an answer?

If the response is now, then you’re in a synchronous communication context.

All the while, a delayed yet still helpful reply means an asynchronous approach.

So now -> sync, delayed -> async. Yes, I made a tiny flowchart. But it’s straightforward if you put it this way.

So let's further discuss both for an in-depth understanding.

Synchronous communication: what it is and how it works#

Synchronous communication means real-time interaction between two or more people. It can be either a face-to-face exchange or a computer-facilitated discussion. Everything listed below falls into this category:

☕ a face-to-face meeting with a colleague,

🌾 a long-distance talk with your grandma from the countryside,

📞 a telephone call to your siblings when they’re in the next room (it’s OK, don’t blush, I do it as well),

🎧 a Zoom meeting using speakers and microphones only,

👔 On a Google Meet with the webcam on—top half formal, bottom half in PJs.

You get my point. Synchronous communication is how we naturally communicate.

But how we naturally do things has proven to be not the best way around. When we look at how our lives look today, much of what we see results from innovation and optimizations. Driving electric cars instead of horse carriages, ordering in on Uber Eats instead of cooking ourselves, there's not much our current lifestyles have in common with what seemed natural for our parents or in our childhoods.

So there’s definitely a big question mark above whether natural is desirable.

For synchronous communication as well.

What I can say for sure is, there are benefits. You connect on a profound level with your discussion partner. You get emotional feedback as well, not just information.

But there are also downsides. Synchronous communication is time consuming and not always the most respectful use of other people’s time, since you demand instant attention.

Let’s also explore the alternative.

Asynchronous communication: a more modern type of interaction#

Asynchronous communication is when people communicate without the requirement that they are in the same place and at the same time. It works well in personal situations and even better in professional contexts. Here are some clarifying examples:

❤️ a good morning text to your special someone,

✉️ a follow-up email for a work project,

🗨️ a Twitter post sharing your thoughts on today’s most important topics,

📱 a Whatsapp reminder to your friends to let them know you’re there,

📄 an Archbee document with essential information about your company, for an onboarding process.

In all these situations, communication doesn't happen instantly. You send a message and whoever is on the receiving end responds when they get to it. Or in some cases, no feedback is required at all.

Think of the examples. Entirely familiar, aren’t they? That’s because we use async communication daily, and we’ve used it for quite some time now. Basically, the idea is to let people communicate and respond back at their own convenient time.

When it comes to the work environment, that’s refreshing. Using this model of communication, a person does not have to respond immediately. They can go about whatever they’re doing until they finish the task and then deal with new assignments.

Benefits of asynchronous communication at work#

Long story short, your coworker can consume your note unrushed, on their own schedule.

The nuanced implications of this are great and can massively improve people’s attitudes towards their jobs.

1. Flexibility. Responding whenever you want comes with a sense of control and freedom at the same time. Without a doubt, flexible schedules are one of the most important perks employees want from their jobs.

2. Depth. Not having to hurry to give an answer provides the mental space to really let the information sit. Immediate responses will always be more superficial than those well thought over. You can’t deliver quality and do your job properly if you’re constantly switching between meetings. If you ever felt that kind of fatigue, it’s not your fault. The whole approach to efficiency was wrong.

3. Reliability. There’s a Latin saying: Verba volant, scripta manent.

There’s more to it than just a fancy look & feel. What it means is, spoken words fly away, written words remain. Which, by all means, it is true. There’s nothing more comforting than having a database to back up all your discussions and decisions.

1. Planning. When you can't make things up as you go, you have to think ahead since asynchronous communication leaves little time for improvisation. A little strategy never hurt nobody, did it?

2. Wisdom. You have the room to pause and breathe before offering your input. That proves useful in tough moments, such as when opinions differ. Speaking as an introvert and someone who avoids conflict, I understand this well. It also lets you truly experience what you're feeling, at a distance from intrusive eyes.

Asynchronous communication will not solve all your problems. Its biggest disadvantage is that async messages can be easily misunderstood as they lack the richness of real-time interaction. Also, it can take longer to resolve issues, if the amount of time spent on a task is not well managed.

But of course there’s no single solution to all challenges.

We’d love your take on this. How to balance both forms of communication? What works best for you? How do you prefer to be approached and why?

Reach out to us on our office mail address, support@archbee.com, with your personal experience, and any questions or comments. We’ll be more than happy to read your thoughts and respond and even happier for both of us to digest the information at our own pace.