Key Takeaways:

• The working world is changing before our eyes, and tech teams are leading the way. Asynchronous work refers to situations that don’t require everyone to be online at the same time. Every team member is getting work done, but on their own schedule during the times that work best for them.
• Asynchronous work (or “async” as we’ll call it here) has gotten increasingly popular for a few different reasons. A push toward remote work, combined with global teams working from different time zones contributes. That’s not the only story, though. Professionals in general want increased focus and less interruptions (and fewer pointless meetings). Basically, employees want to get more done–and companies are seeing benefits to their bottom lines.
• Async work isn’t right for every team. Tech teams lead the way for a reason: for one thing, they’re more likely to adopt the tools that make this work possible. Tools like Loom, Notion, and Confluence all facilitate better communication and documentation that’s not restricted by time zones. Shift helps employees to work across accounts without constant logging in and out. The most crucial “tool” is the right culture; one that is focused on outcomes instead of hours worked.
• Async work isn’t perfect; there are challenges that can be difficult for managers to navigate. Consider the recent mandates at companies like X, where leaders have concerns about productivity and have called employees back to work. Plus, employees are conditioned right now to always be “online”. Breaking away from that mindset is essential for async work to work.
• The bottom line: it's becoming more possible to shape your workday in the ways that work for you. Joining the right culture with the right support in place means you can say goodbye to the traditional 9-to-5 (and the endless meetings that come with it).

Some things are classic, and meant to stick around forever (like a good Chanel suit). Some things fade into the past and become a remnant of history. Consider the classic 9-to-5 workday. Designed for factory floors and physical offices, it’s like the old rotary phone of work schedules—functional, but let’s face it: a bit outdated.

Fast forward to 2025, and here we sit: virtually high-fiving our global teams, working from cozy nooks at home (or the beach, if we’re being honest), and wielding digital tools that make that rigid structure feel about as relevant as a dial-up modem. Enter asynchronous work—where flexibility rules and deadlines don’t require you to be on the clock at the same time as your colleagues.

Asynchronous work offers a new rhythm for modern teams, and both employees and companies can stand to benefit if they are willing to embrace change. Here’s everything you need to know about the new normal for today’s tech teams.

What Is Async Work, Really?

What is this mysterious async work that’s changing the way so many people approach their jobs? In a nutshell, it’s work that doesn’t require everyone to be online at the same time. Think of it like sending your friend a message on Instagram at 2 a.m.--you know you probably won’t get a response until the next morning, and that’s ok. Then maybe they’ll respond when you’re at work, so your next response will be a bit delayed, and so on…

It’s all about communication happening over time rather than in real-time. Tools like Slack, Notion, Loom, Google Docs, and ClickUp are the async superheroes, allowing work to progress without the constant barrage of Zoom calls or Slack pings interrupting your flow. You know how you feel when you can binge-watch your favorite show without anyone asking, “Are you still watching?” It’s kind of like that. Some of the core tenants that async teams tend to subscribe to are:

• Flexibility - team members all understand that everyone is working at their own pace and during the hours that suit them best.
• Clear communication - An emphasis on transparent and concise communication means there is less need for real-time discussion.
• Documentation - Maintaining thorough documentation is crucial, as it provides much-needed references for team members who aren’t online at the same time.
• Trust - A culture of trust, where team members are all accountable for their own work without constant oversight, makes this model possible.
• Outcome focused - Leaders shift the focus from hours worked to the results achieved.
• Use of tools - It’s expected that team members adopt and use technology to facilitate async communication and collaboration.
• Time zone awareness - Being mindful of different time zones when planning meetings or deadlines is important.
• Regular check-ins - Async work doesn’t mean meetings are skipped; rather, periodic updates ensure alignment and progress.

Related Post: The Best AI Note-Taking Apps for Meetings

Why Async Is Taking Over

What makes async so appealing to so many, especially in the tech world?

Well, for starters, global teams are popping up everywhere, and different time zones mean the traditional one-size-fits-all schedule won’t cut it anymore. Then there’s the whole “deep work” movement. People are tired of being interrupted every five minutes and crave those uninterrupted focus sessions.

Plus, let’s not forget meeting overload fatigue. Too many meetings make us feel like we’re stuck in an episode of “The Office,” where everyone’s talking but no one’s getting anything done. We’ve all been to meetings that should have been an email, and now business leaders are seeing the value in skipping those sessions. With better tools (and AI!) designed for async workflows, we’re finally saying “no thanks” to constant interruptions.

The rise of tools built specifically for delayed responses and documentation-first workflows means people can better work at their own pace and focus on deliverables rather than aligning schedules. In short: everyone can get more done, which is really the goal of most companies.

The Benefits of Async Work (When Done Right)

When done right, async work brings a buffet of benefits! For example:

• Flexibility—people can work when they feel most productive, whether that’s early in the morning or late at night while wearing pajamas. This is huge for work-life balance, especially in traditional tech environments with start-up level schedules.
• Inclusivity is another big win; async tends to be better for parents, neurodivergent folks, and introverts who thrive in low-pressure environments. Plus, since you don’t need to worry about being in the same building, you can build out more diverse teams from different geographies.
• Transparency is also key, as decisions and processes get documented for everyone to see. Since async places an emphasis on documentation, there is more assurance that people have access to the latest information and decision-making.
• Focus! With fewer context switches, the quality of work skyrockets. Who knew fewer meetings could actually lead to better results? (That’s not a serious question; we know you knew that).

Related Post: How Your Work Environment Shapes Your Mindset

The Challenges of Going Async

If it sounds like we are huge fans of async work, we are–but that doesn’t mean we are naive about the potential pitfalls.

Async work isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. There are a few challenges to navigate, like these:

• Delayed feedback loops can be a buzzkill for urgent tasks, and without solid documentation, you might find yourself in a communication silo faster than you can say “Where’s that report?” Increased documentation and transparency is crucial here.
• The dreaded “out of sight” anxiety—managers sometimes worry that their team is just lounging around in their pajamas instead of getting work done. This HBR article does a nice job of highlighting the gap between employees and managers when it comes to remote work jobs. If async is implemented within a team that doesn’t have a culture of accountability or clear milestones, this can become a problem.

Making async work possible requires trust and clarity; everyone must be on the same page regarding goals, timelines, and expectations.

How Tech Teams Are Making It Work

How are tech teams making async work, well, work? Here are some of the basics.

• Loom is quickly becoming the go-to for quick video updates instead of scheduling yet another Zoom meeting.
• Notion or Confluence are turning into async hubs, where you can find all the juicy details without having to dig through endless email chains.
• Shift is helping manage communication across accounts, and let’s not forget about Slack etiquette updates—think async-friendly channels and scheduled messages.
• Clear workflows with defined responsibilities, deadlines, and handoff protocols are the foundation of a successful async team.

Building a Culture That Supports Async

Building a culture that supports async work is like creating a new recipe—we need to tweak a few ingredients. It starts with shifting from hours worked to outcomes delivered. This is a mindshift that needs to start at the top.

Encourage your team to sharpen those written communication skills because updates are key but no one wants to read a novel in a Slack message. Managers can also use status updates and daily check-ins (in writing, please, not in another meeting!). Establish some protocols and workflows that ensure everyone is in the loop on deadlines and milestones, but not being micromanaged.

Finally (and perhaps most importantly), leaders need to normalize delayed responses and banish the “always online” pressure—your team will thank you later. How many remote employees worry about the “away” status popping up on their IM tools? Strong async teams create a culture where it’s ok to step away from your desk to eat, exercise, or run an errand–as long as work is getting done as it should be.

The New Workday Is Yours to Define

Async work isn’t perfect, but it offers something that most 9-to-5s never could: autonomy and focus. As tech teams lead the charge, expect the async model to continue spreading—not just across time zones, but across industries.

Here at Shift, we are embracing a new form of working. Not only do our tools support async work across today’s workforce, but we lead by example. Our leaders are focused on cultivating a culture that’s as flexible as the yoga instructors they see at 2 pm.