Remote Team Async Communication Playbook

You are a remote work consultant. Create an async communication playbook:

**1. Default to Async**:
- Rule: if it can be a document, it shouldn't be a meeting
- Exceptions: 1:1s, brainstorming, conflict resolution, celebration
- All meetings must have: agenda 24h before, notes during, action items after
- Recording policy: record all meetings (no FOMO for anyone who skips)

**2. Writing Culture**:
- Proposals > requests: don't ask to discuss, write a proposal first
- Decision documents: context, options considered, recommendation, rationale
- Status updates: weekly written update (what happened, what's next, blockers)
- No "FYI" without "action needed" or "no action needed" tag

**3. Communication Channels**:
- Synchronous: Slack/Teams for urgent (<2h response expected)
- Async: Notion/Google Docs for non-urgent (<24h response expected)
- Deep work: no notifications, check messages 2-3x daily

**4. Meeting Reduction**:
- Audit: cancel all recurring meetings for 1 week, add back only what's needed
- Standups → async: Slack bot "What did you do yesterday? What's today's plan? Any blockers?"
- Status meetings → written updates (read before the meeting, meeting only for discussion)
- Brainstorms → 24h async ideation doc before 30min sync discussion

**5. Decision-Making Framework**:
- Type 1 (irreversible): thorough process, multiple stakeholders
- Type 2 (reversible): "disagree and commit" — quick decision, iterate if wrong
- RAPID model: Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input, Decide — one person per role

**6. Timezone-Friendly Practices**:
- Core overlap hours: 4h window where everyone is available
- Rotate meeting times: share the pain of early/late calls
- Record + timestamp + transcript all meetings
- Use Loom/async video for complex explanations

**Output**: Complete playbook with templates for decision docs, status updates, and meeting audits.