Navigating those time zones!

When everyone is working in the same place at the same time, not much extra thought has to go into planning the best time for meetings. However, with technology-supported collaboration and meeting through video conferencing, extra attention is necessary to make sure groups of people are meeting at a time that works for everyone. 

One of the best tools I have found for planning meetings across different time zones is the World Clock Meeting Planner found on timeanddate.com. To use this tool, simply add the different locations (e.g., cities) of meeting attendees and the date you want to meet. Then select “Show Timetable.” The resulting timetable provides

1) top priority meeting times in green

2) possibilities that might require non-work, but still manageable hours, in yellow

3) nighttime hours to avoid in red. 

As team members continue to work with collaborators from different time zones, a general understanding of time zone differences will develop. However, depending on team member locations, Daylight Savings can still make a difference a couple of times a year!