From Chaos to Clarity: Managing Multiple Projects

It's 7 AM, and you're sipping your first coffee of the day, just as your European team mates are wrapping up their workday.

Fast forward to 8 PM, and you're on a call with your team in Pakistan, who are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to tackle the day. 

Welcome to a day in the life of a remote growth marketing leader managing a global team. It's like being in a stand-up comedy routine, full of twists, turns, and a lot of caffeine.

I never aimed to be a growth marketing team leader. 
All I wanted was to be very good at my job.

But as projects grew in complexity, I had to hire more people to help me and eventually ended up in leadership positions in marketing agencies. 

There were many situations where I thought I didn't have what it takes to be a good leader to my team, and my own burnout and anxiety episodes are proof of that. 

However, with time and a LOT of help, I learned a few tricks I want to share so you can grow in your career or make sense of your chaotic schedule.

Leverage Time Zones for Remote Teams

Imagine sending a "good morning" email and getting an instant reply from someone saying, "Good night!" 

That's the beauty (and the beast) of managing a global team. 

Sure, it feels like you're living in a time warp, but guess what?
You have a team working around the clock, turning your marketing strategies into a 24/7 operation.

To make this work, you need tools like Slack and shared calendars to ensure everyone is on the same page since we can't be on the same time zone.

Here’s how I make the most of our time zone differences:

1. Schedule Overlaps: Identify time slots where your team’s work hours overlap. These are prime times for team meetings and synchronous work.

2. Asynchronous Communication: Use tools that allow for async communication, like Slack and ClickUp, so team members can leave updates and feedback that others can address in their own time.

3. Clear Handovers: When one team finishes their workday, they leave detailed notes for the next team to pick up seamlessly. It’s like a relay race where the baton never drops.

Leveraging time zones effectively means that while you sleep, progress is being made. It’s like having a marketing machine that never stops running. 

Toggl's experience (another one of my favorite tools) shows that embracing asynchronous communication empowers team members to work without the constant pressure of immediacy, leading to thoughtful, well-considered work​.

Plus, it keeps things interesting – you never know what surprises await you when you wake up!

Keep Clear Documentation of Goals and Expectations

Have you ever gone grocery shopping without a list? You end up with five bags of chips and no actual food. Well, at least that's what I do haha.

The same goes for project management. Clear documentation is your shopping list. It ensures everyone knows what's expected and tracks progress.

Here's how I keep documentation clear and organized:

1. Follow-Up Emails: After every meeting, send a follow-up email summarizing the discussion. This ensures everyone is on the same page and provides a written record of what was agreed upon.

2. Project Management Tools: Tools like ClickUp are invaluable. They help document goals, set milestones, and track progress. This transparency keeps the team informed and aligned with the project’s direction.

3. Regular Updates: Consistent updates are key. Schedule regular check-ins to review progress, address any roadblocks, and ensure everyone is still aligned with the goals.

"If it's not documented, it doesn't exist." That's my motto.

Documentation prevents miscommunications and misunderstandings. It’s your roadmap guiding your project from start to finish.
You don't want anything falling through the cracks, right?

Trust Your Team and Give Them Freedom to Solve Problems