Software based product development involving AI is a collaborative effort. More than 10 years with scattered team around the globe has taught me few things like: * Establish clear, unified communication protocols * Schedule regular, inclusive virtual meetings * Define and reinforce core team values consistently * Leverage collaboration tools for real-time updates * Encourage informal virtual social interactions * Adapt schedules to accommodate multiple time zones * Maintain transparent leadership and decision-making * Celebrate team successes across locations

You don’t have to be present all the time but you need to give the team the impression that you are. You’ll need to rotate your schedule or even work a little bit extra to make sure you can touch base with all the crew!! Most important take action when required or asked to, nothing talks like actions!

Ah, the time-zone tango! We keep our culture sizzling with a cocktail of clear communication, shared rituals (like virtual tea/coffee breaks), and lots of humor across Teams threads. Regular video check-ins help keep faces familiar and empathy flowing. We celebrate birthdays, wins, and even cat memes — yes, Fluffy Friday is a thing! Tools like Miro, Teams, and WhatsApp keep the pulse going, but it’s the trust, transparency, and touch of desi warmth that truly glue us together. After all, culture isn’t built in meetings—it’s built between them. "Culture eats strategy for breakfast" – Peter Drucker. And we serve ours with global flair and local spice!

We can do below things 1. Hold regular virtual meetings. 2. Use communication tools like Slack or Asana. 3. Establish shared goals and objectives. 4. Encourage cultural exchange. 5. Offer flexibility and autonomy. Benefits are- 1. Increased collaboration. 2. Improved communication. 3. Enhanced productivity. Challenges and Solutions 1. Use time zone-friendly tools for time zone differences. 2. Use clear language and translation tools for language barriers.

You need to identify the moments that matter and prioritize them. - Weekly team meetings - Quarterly/Annual team planning/summits - Ad-hoc check-in calls - Planned market visit & tours w/ them Once you have the moments identified you need to commit and maintain them. In addition, set it and forget it is a thing of the past. - Ask your team how the weekly team agendas are going. Let them shape the moments that you all invest in. - Make sure 1/1 outreach includes work & life conversations.

Set clear expectations for communication, deadlines, and availability. This helps everyone stay on the same page and reduces misunderstandings. Maintaining a strong team culture across different time zones can be challenging, but it's definitely achievable with the right strategies.

First, establish clear communication guidelines set expectations for response times and preferred communication channels. It’s important to be mindful of everyone’s time zone when scheduling meetings, and when in doubt, rotate meeting times so no one is always inconvenienced. Foster casual touchpoints—whether it’s a virtual coffee break or a team chat channel where people can share non-work things. Also, encourage regular one-on-ones, so people feel connected, not just to the work but to each other. Lastly, recognize and celebrate wins, big or small, publicly and often. Even when you’re not in the same room, those small acts of connection and recognition go a long way in keeping the team spirit alive.

Different time zone can be used to a team’s advantage. Using overlapping time for an alignment with the earlier time zone team handing over to the other team. More can get done. This requires in my experience a clear definition of goals and OKR. The teams residing in different time zones should ideally also build relationships beyond just video calls. An annual get-together can work wonders