The Challenge of Global Scheduling
Coordinating meetings across time zones is one of the biggest challenges in international business. A convenient time for one party might be the middle of the night for another.
Find the Overlap
Use a meeting planner tool to visualize working hours across all participants' time zones. Look for overlapping business hours where everyone is awake and ideally in their office.
Rotate Meeting Times
If regular meetings are required, rotate the inconvenient times fairly. Don't always schedule at times that favor one region over others.
Be Explicit About Time Zones
Always specify the time zone when scheduling. Instead of "3 PM," say "3 PM EST" or "15:00 UTC." Better yet, include times for all participants' zones.
Use Scheduling Tools
Tools like CurrentTime.one's Event Planner can automatically show your proposed time in all participants' local times, reducing confusion and errors.
Consider Cultural Factors
Be aware of public holidays, religious observances, and typical working hours in different cultures. What's a normal business hour in one country might be unusual in another.