What Are Team Overlap Blocks?

Team Overlap Blocks are predefined time slots within your SoWork workspace that indicate when team members should overlap their schedules for real-time collaboration. These blocks are especially useful for remote or distributed teams working across varying time zones. They provide a visual representation of a period of time where team members are expected to be available for synchronous communication and collaboration in the office.

How to Edit Your Team Overlap Block in Sowork

In SoWork, each workspace is automatically assigned one Team Overlap Block. To make it work for your team, you simply need to edit the times to suit your needs. Here’s how:

Step 1: Access the Team Schedule Settings

1. Log in to your SoWork workspace.
2. Navigate to the Team Settings section from the main dashboard.
3. Select the Edit button to edit your existing Team Overlap Block.

Step 2: Edit the Team Overlap Block

You can access and edit your Team Overlap Block from two locations:

1. The Team Settings Page: Navigate to Settings > Team Settings > Team Blocks to directly view and edit your overlap block.
2. The What's Happening Panel: This panel includes a shortcut to edit the Team Overlap Block by redirecting you to the Team Settings page.

Both options provide full editing capabilities, ensuring you can make changes from whichever location is most convenient. Let’s go through some of the settings you can edit:

1. Adjust the following settings as needed:

• Time Zone: Choose the time zone(s) relevant to your team.
• Start and End Time: Set the duration for the overlap block.
• Days of the Week: Select the days when the block will occur.

2. Optionally, add a descriptive name for the block (e.g., “Daily Standup” or “Collaboration Hours”).

3. Save your changes to update the block for your team.

Step 3: Notify Team Members

1. SoWork will notify all relevant team members about any changes.
2. Team members can view the updated overlap block on their personal schedules.
3. You can change your notifications settings in Main Menu > Settings > Notifications

Best Practices for Using Team Overlap

1. Balance Work-Life Harmony

Avoid scheduling overlap blocks too early or late for team members in different time zones. Aim for times that are fair and respectful to everyone.

2. Communicate Expectations Clearly

Make sure all team members clearly understand the purpose of the overlap block and the expectations during this time. For example: Should everyone be available? Are private meetings allowed during team blocks? Is it mandatory to have cameras on during team blocks? etc.

3. Use Overlap Blocks Strategically

Reserve overlap blocks for activities that truly require synchronous collaboration, such as team meetings, brainstorming sessions, or urgent decision-making.

4. Review Regularly

Periodically review the effectiveness of your overlap blocks and make adjustments based on team feedback and changing needs.