I run a SaaS business and my whole team works remotely.Developers are doing fine, but I’m having a tough time with the sales and marketing team. It feels like they’re not managing themselves well, and productivity seems low.
Does anyone have advice on managing remote teams effectively? Any tools or strategies that have worked for you?
This is a friendly reminder that this forum is for sharing questions and advice about starting, running, and growing a small business. Posts breaking the forum rules might be removed, and repeated violations could lead to bans. If you think this message was sent by mistake, reach out to the moderators for help.
Just have regular check-ins and make sure everyone knows what’s expected. Simple accountability can go a long way.
This might be more about how you’re managing things than the tools you’re using. Set clear goals and track progress. If they’re not meeting targets, there needs to be a process in place. You don’t have to micromanage, but you need clear expectations and policies.
Have you tried using something like spreadsheets for planning or holding regular team meetings? It could help keep everyone on track.
What works for me is focusing on outcomes, not hours. For example, if someone finishes their work in 20 hours, great—they still get full pay. For sales, a commission structure could keep them motivated. For marketing, set weekly goals. Clear expectations are everything.
I used to run a service business where my team was always on the go. One-on-one calls and team check-ins were super helpful. My wife works remotely too. Her team uses a project tracking tool and has weekly video calls. Her old job required all communication to be on video. It was annoying at first but really helped with teamwork. Maybe try something like that?
Hiring the right people makes all the difference. I thought I was bad at managing remote teams until I started hiring better. Some people just aren’t cut out for remote work. Be extra cautious during the hiring process.
Big companies are moving back to the office for a reason…
Shannon said:
Big companies are moving back to the office for a reason…
Maybe, but I doubt it’s just about productivity. There are probably other factors involved.
Shannon said:
Big companies are moving back to the office for a reason…
Maybe, but I doubt it’s just about productivity. There are probably other factors involved.
It’s interesting how much debate there is about working from home versus office work these days. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion.
Shannon said:
Big companies are moving back to the office for a reason…
Maybe, but I doubt it’s just about productivity. There are probably other factors involved.
It’s probably less about productivity and more about keeping an eye on people who aren’t pulling their weight.