Reflections from Delivery Manager Simone on how to successfully deliver projects across geographies.
One of the benefits of working for Elemental Concept is that I get to be involved in delivering solutions to various clients on different projects. When looking at how best to deliver the solutions, we assess the skills and talent needed and pull those as required from teams across multiple geographies. While this ensures that the correct skills are applied to the right projects, it often results in projects being delivered by teams working across geographies, cultures, and time zones.
Delivering global tech projects well
I have had the absolute pleasure of delivering multiple projects with teams made up of talent spanning Europe, Asia and beyond. As can be expected with multi-geography teams, there are practical aspects we need to get right—like meeting times that account for time zones and national holidays that affect planning. It is also key to ensure that user stories and requirements are clearly documented so they don’t become blockers when team members are unavailable.
But just as key are the human aspects of working together as a team, living in different countries, having different first languages, and having various frames of reference.
Here are some of my insights:
- Start as you mean to continue: Setting clear team expectations up front is critical. The internal team kick-off is vital for this, as it’s where the team meets before we kick off with the client. This is when we make sure we clearly understand roles and responsibilities, when to schedule daily stand-ups (sometimes requiring early starts to accommodate time zones), and how to raise concerns and ask questions.
- Cameras on: For me, to establish rapport, we need cameras on. I want to see if someone is saying “yes” but looking confused. So much of communication is non-verbal, so without the benefit of cameras, we risk missing cues—and this becomes even more important when language issues arise. Talking of which…
- Plan but be prepared to pivot, and account for language barriers: Planning is vital, but it is only through the doing that we figure out if we need to tweak. Regular team retrospectives and open communication enable us to keep adapting, but often the tweaks that work best are those that help us understand each other. For example, I recently found out that all my messages on the team communications channel sounded urgent, so now I preface my requests with “Question” or “Action Needed.” This has helped the team respond accordingly!
- Trust is the foundation: It’s easy to manage dynamics when the project is going smoothly; the test comes when we have to solve problems together. This is more pronounced when dealing with different cultural nuances. I’ve found it vital to establish a supportive team dynamic where everyone feels safe to raise concerns and seek support. One of the best ways to do this is through senior team members modelling the behaviour they wish to see—asking for input, raising concerns, and being a little bit vulnerable in sharing thoughts so that they can be built on and interrogated in the best way. This is where the magic happens.
- Make space for informal communication: You can have all the project ceremonies in place, but if the team doesn’t feel comfortable sharing, you will never get the most out of them. Time needs to be set aside for informal communication through regular catch-ups. This time not only fosters better communication and trust, but I often learn a lot about how team members are getting on and hear suggestions for improvements when we casually chat. This is the same whether working across geographies or just across a desk from somebody!
Some final thoughts…
I feel very lucky to work with team members spread across geographies. Our combined skills and experiences have enabled us to deliver solutions to clients that truly align with their vision. More than that, working in multicultural teams has taught me that successful delivery is not just about processes and ceremonies—it’s about people. When we invest in building trust, fostering open communication, and respecting cultural differences, we don’t just deliver projects; we create environments where innovation thrives and where every team member feels valued.
