Time Zone HK: How to Work with US and UK Clients Smoothly.
Published By: Temo Name.
Getting clients from the United States and the United Kingdom can be a significant step in the careers of Nigerian freelancers and remote workers. These are markets that pay more, provide more career opportunities and have the potential to work on exciting projects around the world. One challenge that the Nigerian remote worker can only face is the time zone difference, however.
Nigeria is on West Africa Time (WAT) which is one hour ahead of the UK and six hours ahead of US Eastern Time. This makes it possible to get up at 9 AM and it's still the middle of the night in Los Angeles. If your US team finishes their working day at 5 PM EST, it is 10 PM in Lagos. To avoid burnout, there needs to be strategy, discipline, and smart work habits to navigate this space. Here are some tips to get to know the time zone difference and to set up effective, seamless relationships with your clients in the US and UK.
Knowing the Time Zone Landscape
To be able to effectively manage time zones, you must first understand them. The UK is on one hour ahead of Nigeria (GMT or British Summer Time). There are several time zones in the US, but most Nigerian freelancers work with the Eastern Time (EST/EDT) which is six hours behind Nigeria or Pacific Time (PST/PDT) which is nine hours behind Nigeria.
It will be 3pm in Lagos if it's 9am in New York. Nigeria is 1 hour ahead of 6 PM in London. Having these numbers memorized allows you to plan your schedule without thinking about them. Always have time in your client's location on a world clock app on your phone or computer.
This is your Overlap Window, Your Golden Hours.
The important thing is to determine the window of overlap between you and the client if you are both working at the same time. This overlap is liberal for UK clients. You spend approximately five to six hours of work a day, from about 9AM WAT (8AM UK) to 2PM WAT (1PM UK) time. This makes it relatively easy to manage UK clients.
Your overlap window is smaller if you're a US East Coast client. Typically three to four hours (between approximately 1 PM WAT / 8 AM EST and 5 PM WAT / 12 PM EST). It's even less on the West Coast, typically only two hours in the late afternoon Nigerian time. Knowing these windows is useful to you so that you can prioritize work which needs to be delivered in real-time.
Warren describes the effective way to organize your workday.
The most successful remote workers are not the type that work the average Nigerian work schedule and just hope things work out. They make their day revolve around their clients. This is not about working all day and night, rather it's a matter of working smarter.
The Split Shift Strategy
The split shift is one of the best techniques that can be used. Do some work in the morning, breaks during the early afternoon, and then work during the "overlap window" in the afternoon to talk to clients. For instance, you can start work at 8 AM WAT and not have to work until 12 PM WAT because it's a time when you can't connect with your US and UK clients, but you can start work at 2 PM WAT and continue until 6 PM WAT.
It's the best way to get in touch with your clients without having to commit to being available for the whole night. It also lets you take a break from being constantly "on" and lets you get a good night's rest.
Early Bird or Night Owl Approach
Others will choose to work around the clock to suit their main client's time zone. If you have a lot of clients in the US Eastern Time Zone, you may want to get up late, such as at 11 AM WAT, and stay on until 8 PM WAT. That provides you with 12 hours of coverage for the U.S. morning/early afternoon.
Some may like to take advantage of the UK morning from 6 AM to 2 PM WAT. This will depend on your own energy, family, and the time zone of your main clients. Try out things to see what works for you.
Making a difference through communication.
When collaborating across time zones, it is even more important to communicate effectively. A message that you send at 5 PM WAT will be received by your US client the following morning. This lag can hinder project progress and cause delays in projects and frustration.
Establish clear expectations for answers.
Set expectations from the start of you working with your clients. Make your client aware of your working hours in their time zone. For instance: "My normal working hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM WAT (3 AM to 12 PM EST) and I will get back to you in 24 hours or less. If it is urgent please indicate it in your email.
This sets expectations and alleviates anxiety for both parties. You don't have to reply at 2AM and clients will know when to expect your response.
Use Asynchronous Communication
Not all things need to be done immediately. Understand the concept of asynchronicity. This includes sending lengthier emails, utilizing project management software such as Trello or Asana, and video-recorded updates instead of planning regular, real-time meetings for every little thing. The modern tools of well-crafted update or a short Loom video can deliver complex information without the need for both parties to be online together.
Another advantage of asynchronous work is that your clients can provide feedback at their own pace, potentially resulting in more detailed and thoughtful feedback.
Schedule Meetings Strategically
If live meetings are required, strategically plan them. The Nigerian late morning time is the best time for clients in UK. The early afternoon Nigerian time is ideal for US East Coast clients. In the case of US West Coast clients, you might have to arrange conferences for late afternoon or early evening in Nigeria.
Take the initiative when it comes time to set up meetings. It means you are in control and are being professional. Apply a scheduling software which can convert time zones automatically without any confusion.
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