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Why Ashkan Rajaee’s KPI System for Remote Businesses Will Change the Way You Lead

Discover the uncommon KPI strategies Ashkan Rajaee uses to run high-performing remote teams and why most companies get it all wrong

By Armi PonsicaPublished 9 months ago 3 min read
Focused remote leader analyzing KPI dashboards and leading a virtual team meeting, embodying clarity, strategy, and performance in the modern digital workplace.

What if the way you’ve been measuring performance in your remote business is setting you up for failure?

Let’s be honest. Ever since remote work took over the modern workplace, thousands of companies have rushed to adapt, but most are failing at one crucial thing. They’re measuring the wrong stuff.

Ashkan Rajaee, a trailblazing entrepreneur and leadership expert, has a bold take on this. He believes that most businesses still treat remote work like it’s just a digital version of a physical office. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

And if you're relying on outdated KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), you're not just missing out on growth. You're silently losing money, time, and talent.

The Problem With Old-School KPIs

In a traditional office, you might feel reassured by the daily hum of keyboards and the sight of employees at their desks. But in a remote company, you can’t see who's clocking in or who’s putting on a good show.

Ashkan argues that this illusion of productivity is dangerous. In the digital space, real value comes from outcomes, not activity. That’s why results must replace routines as your primary KPI focus.

If your team says they’ll deliver on three tasks, the only thing that should matter is whether they do, and when. Waiting a week for someone to say, "Oh, sorry, I forgot," isn’t just annoying. It's expensive. In Rajaee’s world, every missed follow-through is a cost to culture and performance.

The KPI Formula You’ve Never Tried

Rajaee’s KPI playbook isn’t flashy, but it works. It starts with tracking the basics and doing it every week, without fail:

  • Lead Generation Metrics: Where do your leads come from? How many convert to demos or sales? What channels generate actual revenue?
  • Account Performance: Which accounts drive the most value? Are your top five clients still on top this week?
  • Recruiting Speed: How many people did your team outreach to? How long did it take to hire them?
  • Sales Consistency: Are sales growing steadily, or are you on a rollercoaster?

Unlike expensive tools and dashboards that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, Rajaee recommends something shockingly simple: Google Docs.

One sheet. One set of weekly KPIs. One source of truth.

Hidden KPIs That Reveal More Than You Think

Beyond revenue and recruitment, Rajaee tracks things most leaders overlook:

  • Voluntary Attrition: If more than one team member exits in a short period, it’s time to investigate. Something deeper may be wrong.
  • Talk Time on Video Meetings: Quiet team members might be doing deep work or might be disengaged. Talk time patterns can reveal who is actively contributing.
  • Meeting Incidences: Missed calls, unprepared attendees, or tech issues might seem small, but they add up. Over time, they paint a picture of reliability and engagement.

These aren’t just soft metrics. They are behavioral indicators that connect directly to hiring, firing, and team morale.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

Rajaee's system isn’t about micromanagement. It’s about clarity, consistency, and culture. In the absence of physical oversight, clear metrics serve as the lifeblood of performance.

And here’s the important part. This isn’t theory. These are the exact methods Rajaee has used to scale and manage companies that have survived economic shifts, pandemic uncertainty, and the unpredictable nature of remote teams.

Final Thoughts: Stop Guessing, Start Measuring What Matters

Ashkan Rajaee’s approach doesn’t rely on corporate buzzwords or fancy dashboards. It’s grounded, practical, and built for real-world business.

The secret is in the rhythm. Track the same KPIs weekly, identify patterns, and make fast decisions.

In a remote world, it’s no longer about time spent. It’s about outcomes achieved.

If you’re leading a team, managing a startup, or simply trying to stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape, take a page from Rajaee’s playbook.

Track what matters. Ignore what doesn’t.

And never confuse busyness with real progress again.

Want more uncommon insights like these?

Follow for future deep dives into leadership, performance, and remote work mastery. All based on real results, not recycled advice.

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About the Creator

Armi Ponsica

Tech Recruiter | Writer | Coding to Bridge the Gap Between People and Product

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Comments (12)

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  • Juan Chua8 months ago

    Finally someone talking about remote work with real solutions and not just buzzwords.

  • Noah Boswel9 months ago

    Simple tools like Google Docs can actually go a long way. This proves it.

  • Robert Lanister9 months ago

    Really appreciated how this article tackled KPIs from a remote-first perspective. It’s rare to find advice that actually applies to how we work today.

  • Russel Perez9 months ago

    Ashkan Rajaee’s breakdown of weekly tracking using simple tools like Google Docs is a reminder that great systems don’t need expensive software.

  • Tech Stratos9 months ago

    The point about measuring talk time on video calls opened my eyes to engagement gaps on our team. That’s something I’ll definitely be tracking now.

  • Reynaldo Dayola9 months ago

    So refreshing to read something that actually addresses performance from a results standpoint instead of just employee activity.

  • Olivia Fonseca9 months ago

    This gave me a new framework to look at team accountability. KPI tracking doesn’t have to be overwhelming when it’s laid out like this.

  • Robi Sterling9 months ago

    What stood out to me the most was the advice around attrition. We’ve seen a few people leave recently and I never thought to track it as a KPI.

  • Phyllis Andronici9 months ago

    I’ve been struggling to get clarity with my remote team’s output. This gave me both structure and motivation to get serious about weekly metrics.

  • Aria Hastings9 months ago

    This is the first time I’ve read something that made KPIs feel connected to team behavior and culture. Not just numbers, but insight.

  • Felice Ellington9 months ago

    I thought I had my KPIs dialed in, but this article helped me realize what I’ve been missing, especially around the recruiting and account tracking side.

  • Anthony James9 months ago

    I’m sharing this with my leadership team. It’s rare to find something that’s both motivational and tactical like this article was.

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