You're managing a Sales Operations team remotely. How do you keep them engaged and productive?

1 Establish clear goals and expectations

One of the first steps to manage a remote Sales Operations team effectively is to set clear and realistic goals and expectations for each team member and the whole team. This will help you align your team's efforts, track their progress, and provide feedback and recognition. You can use a framework like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to define your goals and communicate them clearly to your team. You should also establish regular check-ins and reviews to monitor and evaluate your team's performance and address any issues or challenges.

2 Use the right tools and processes

Another key factor to keep your remote Sales Operations team engaged and productive is to use the right tools and processes that support your work and collaboration. You should choose tools that are easy to use, secure, and integrated with each other, such as CRM, data analysis, project management, communication, and file sharing tools. You should also create and document standard processes and workflows for your team to follow, such as data entry, reporting, forecasting, pipeline management, and quality assurance. This will help you streamline your operations, reduce errors, and ensure consistency and transparency.

3 Foster a strong team culture

A strong team culture is essential for any Sales Operations team, but especially for a remote one. You need to foster a sense of trust, respect, and belonging among your team members, as well as a shared vision and values. You can do this by creating opportunities for your team to interact and bond, such as virtual meetings, coffee chats, happy hours, games, and celebrations. You should also encourage your team to share their ideas, feedback, and best practices, and to recognize and appreciate each other's contributions. This will help you build a collaborative and supportive environment for your team.

4 Provide coaching and development

As a remote Sales Operations leader, you should also provide coaching and development for your team members to help them grow their skills, knowledge, and confidence. You can do this by offering regular and constructive feedback, identifying their strengths and areas for improvement, and creating personalized development plans for them. You should also provide them with access to relevant training, resources, and mentors, and encourage them to pursue their learning goals. This will help you motivate your team, improve their performance, and retain their talent.

5 Promote work-life balance

Finally, you should promote work-life balance for your remote Sales Operations team to help them avoid burnout, stress, and fatigue. You can do this by setting realistic deadlines, respecting their working hours, and avoiding micromanagement. You should also encourage your team to take breaks, exercise, and disconnect from work when they need to. You should also model healthy habits and behaviors yourself, such as taking time off, delegating tasks, and asking for help. This will help you maintain your team's well-being, morale, and productivity.