Maximizing Remote Team Productivity: Insights from Kelechi, General Manager of Café One

In a world increasingly shifting to remote work, many business owners and founders assume that their teams are working as diligently as they are. However, the reality is often more complex. Without the right measures in place, it can be challenging to achieve the level of productivity necessary for significant business growth in a remote setting.

Kelechi, the General Manager of Café One, Nigeria's leading co-working space and coffee shop, shares her insights on how to effectively manage and measure productivity within a remote team. She offers valuable strategies on setting clear goals, tracking progress, and fostering a results-driven environment.

Defining Productivity

For Kelechi, productivity starts with setting specific, measurable goals. Each year, Café One sets an overarching revenue target, which is then broken down into quarterly, monthly, and weekly goals. For example, to achieve a yearly goal of 1 billion naira, the team focuses on hitting weekly targets of 20 million naira.

“Our definition of productivity has evolved as our team has grown. We’ve expanded significantly this year, adding almost 100 new employees. As a result, our targets and the way we measure success have had to adapt,” Kelechi notes. With this growth came the need for a more structured approach to team management, moving from a flat structure to a hierarchical one with clearer reporting lines.

Balancing Metrics and Autonomy

One of the key challenges in remote work is tracking productivity without micromanaging. Kelechi tackles this by setting clear weekly goals and having regular check-ins with her team leaders. “Every Monday, we outline the key goals for the week. If we’re not on track by mid-week, I step in to see what went wrong and how we can course-correct.”

While her team operates remotely, Kelechi occasionally asks employees to come into the office when she senses a drop in productivity. However, she stresses the importance of flexibility. “There are team members who consistently deliver, and I never ask them to come in.”

Tools and Communication

Surprisingly, the simpler tools often work best for Kelechi’s team. While they have experimented with productivity management software like Jira, Miro, and Microsoft Office Suite, Kelechi finds that basic communication tools like WhatsApp are more effective. “We communicate a lot, and WhatsApp groups have become integral to our work. Fancy tools didn’t work as well for us, but we’ve developed internal systems that keep us accountable.”

This pragmatic approach underscores the importance of finding tools that fit your team’s unique workflow, even if they’re less sophisticated.

Key Lessons for Founders

For other business owners managing remote teams, Kelechi emphasizes the importance of breaking down big goals into smaller, manageable tasks. “If your annual goal is 1 billion naira, break it down into weekly targets. Track progress regularly and hold your team accountable for hitting those smaller milestones.”

The most important lesson she has learned is to hire the right people. “Skills can be taught, but passion and dedication cannot,” she explains. “I have team members who send me ideas at 2 a.m. because they’re always thinking about how to move us closer to our goals. That kind of commitment is invaluable.”

Overcoming Productivity Challenges

Kelechi shares a recent example of a productivity challenge she faced with the Café One card launch. Initially, card uptake was low, with less than 200 cards sold. She responded by organizing a physical strategy session with her team leads. “We clearly defined responsibilities and laid out a step-by-step execution plan. The result was a 500% increase in card distribution in a short period.”

Her takeaway? When faced with a challenge, bring your team together, remind them of the larger goal, and break the task into manageable steps.

Final Thoughts

Kelechi’s approach to managing a remote team is built on clear communication, well-defined goals, and a focus on accountability. Her success at Café One shows that even in a remote setting, businesses can foster a productive, engaged workforce by leveraging the right tools and hiring passionate, driven individuals.

For other founders, her advice is simple: “Set big goals, break them down, and hold your team accountable. With the right people and clear direction, remote teams can achieve remarkable success.”

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