async-first: the only sane way to work

let’s cut the bs: most meetings are useless.

sync-only teams are drowning in calendar invites and burning out. async-only teams move like glaciers. both are doing it wrong.

here’s the truth: async-first isn’t just practical - it’s respectful. it lets people think, work, and live on their terms. no more “quick syncs” that destroy your flow. no more timezone tetris.

graph LR
    A[Sync-Only: Chaos] --> B[Sync-First: Better]
    B --> C[Async-First: Best]:::highlight
    C --> D[Async-Only: Dead]

    classDef highlight fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px,color:#000;

here’s how it actually works:

default to async for everything that matters: decisions, updates, planning.
use sync when shit needs to get real: tough calls, brainstorming, celebrating wins.
if someone suggests a meeting, ask why. then ask again.

the world doesn’t stop if you’re not always “available”. that’s the point. async-first means work happens when it makes sense, not when the calendar says so.

this isn’t just about productivity. it’s about trust. you’re saying “hey team, i believe you can figure stuff out without me hovering”. and guess what? they usually can. it’s self-org-company principles applied to communication.

sync communication is like sugar: useful sometimes, toxic in large doses. async is your protein. it keeps things moving without the crashes.

stop pretending you need all those meetings.

async-first isn’t perfect. nothing is. but compared to the alternatives? it’s not even close. your calendar (and your team) will thank you.

sync drowns. async swims. choose wisely.

async-first

async-first: the only sane way to work

See also