More and more companies are building international teams who collaborate across borders, time zones, and cultures.
Whether it’s a marketing department with members in the UK, India, and Germany, or a product development team spread across Europe and North America, the debate has shifted from if global collaboration is possible, to how to make it work.
The benefits of international teams are compelling: broader perspectives, continuous progress, and access to global best practices. But to unlock these advantages, businesses need to be strategic about how they build, support, and communicate with their teams.
Kruti Patel, Vice President of IMS nHance, a marketing workforce solutions agency based in India, has spent years leading global teams and partnering with international clients. Her experience offers valuable insights into what makes cross-border collaboration successful.
The value of global perspectives
One of the most powerful benefits of international teams is the diversity of thought they bring. When people from different cultural and professional backgrounds come together, they approach problems in unique ways. This leads to richer discussions, more creative solutions, and a broader understanding of the challenges at hand.
“Different backgrounds mean different ways of solving problems,” says Kruti. “When you bring together people from different cultures, industries, and experiences, you’re adding depth to your offering and opening up new possibilities.”
This diversity also helps teams avoid groupthink – when groups make subpar decisions driven by the urge to conform – and encourages more inclusive decision-making.
Time zones as a strategic advantage
While time zone differences can be a logistical challenge, they also offer a unique advantage: continuous progress. With team members working in staggered hours, projects can move forward around the clock. A designer in London might hand over a brief to a developer in Mumbai, who then passes it to a quality assurance specialist based in Sydney. This seamless relay of work enables faster turnaround times and maximises productivity without extending individual working hours.
Kruti sees this as a major benefit: “Progress doesn’t really stop. Someone is always moving things forward. Even when one team logs off for the day, another is just beginning. It creates this continuous momentum where tasks don’t sit idle overnight, instead, they evolve. Designs get built, code gets reviewed, feedback gets actioned.”
To make this work, companies need to establish clear handover processes and shared documentation. But when done right, it creates a rhythm of productivity that’s hard to match.
Culture is the biggest strength
Cultural differences are often seen as a hurdle in international collaboration, but in reality, they are a source of strength. The key is to approach culture with empathy and respect.
Research from CIPD highlights that multicultural teams, when managed well, show enhanced creativity, problem-solving, and learning outcomes. These benefits stem from the richness of diverse perspectives and the ability to challenge assumptions in constructive ways.
Kruti emphasises the importance of culture: “It’s where real collaboration begins. You want to create a culture where teams listen first and then start asking questions. We always make sure our teams think this way, so we are able to co-create the future with our client partners.”
This mindset applies internally too. Managers of multicultural teams consistently cite empathy and cultural intelligence as essentials for building trust and unlocking team potential. Successful international teams don’t just ‘tolerate’ cultural differences but embrace them. They take time to understand each other’s communication styles, work habits, and values. This builds trust and helps avoid misunderstandings.
Communication that builds connection
Technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected across borders. Tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, and project management platforms such as Monday.com and ClickUp, are essential for keeping people and projects aligned.
But tools alone aren’t enough. Strong communication requires rhythm and clarity. Kruti recommends regular check-ins, overlapping working hours, and a culture of over-communicating when in doubt. “We rely on context and clarity,” she says. “If something is unclear, we encourage asking questions rather than assuming.”
This approach helps teams navigate language nuances and different working styles. It also helps promote psychological safety so that employees feel comfortable speaking up, asking for help, and sharing ideas.
Training for global collaboration
Building an effective international team starts with onboarding. At IMS nHance, Kruti explains that every new team member goes through cultural orientation, geography-specific training, and client-specific briefings. This includes learning about different industries, communication, and working styles.
Ongoing training also covers soft skills like cross-cultural communication, empathy, and professional etiquette. These skills are essential for building trust and navigating the subtle dynamics of global teamwork.
But the benefits go beyond team cohesion. Kruti shares that working across geographies has helped IMS nHance evolve as a business. “It’s made us sharper,” she said. “Each new geography and each new industry teaches us something. It’s helped us evolve our service offerings to be more flexible, scalable, and aligned with international benchmarks.”
Looking ahead: the rise of global teams
Remote work has accelerated the shift toward international collaboration. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work adoption on a global scale has grown exponentially, showing that great work doesn’t have to be bound by geography.
Kruti sees this trend continuing: “With the right tools, working across borders feels natural, and I think we’ll only see more of it in the future.”
For companies considering their first steps into global collaboration, Kruti offers a clear roadmap:
Prepare your operations and tech: ensure your infrastructure – tools, platforms, and workflows – are designed to support remote and cross-border collaboration. This includes secure file sharing, real-time communication tools, and project management systems.
Involve your existing team from the outset: bring your current employees into the journey early. Help them understand the value of international collaboration and encourage them to contribute to shaping how it works.
Communicate openly and with context: go beyond task-based communication. Share the ‘why’ behind decisions, provide cultural context, and encourage questions to avoid assumptions and misunderstandings.
Set clear expectations early on: define roles, responsibilities, and communication rhythms from the beginning. This helps avoid confusion and ensures accountability across time zones.
Allow time for relationships to develop: building trust across borders takes time. Be patient and consistent.
Success starts with listening, cultural integration, and a commitment to shared goals. In a world where borders matter less than ever, the companies that thrive will be those that see global teams not as distant element of the team, but as integral to positively shaping the business.
At the end of the day, Kruti is a firm believer that: “When aligned, global teams can deliver measurable, transformative results.”
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