What We Learned About Remote Work as a Small Team

Pulseon has been remote-friendly since we started in 2020—not by choice initially, but by necessity. What began as a pandemic adaptation became our preferred way of working. Here's what we've learned about making remote work actually work.

Communication Must Be Intentional

In an office, communication happens naturally. You overhear conversations, bump into colleagues, pick up context through osmosis. Remote work has none of this. Communication must be deliberate.

What we do:

Daily async updates: A quick message about what you're working on
Weekly video calls: Face time matters, even through screens
Documentation by default: If it's not written down, it didn't happen

The overhead of explicit communication is real, but the alternative—misunderstandings and isolation—is worse.

Trust Is the Foundation

Remote work doesn't function without trust. If you're constantly wondering whether people are actually working, you've already lost.

Building trust:

Hire people you trust (obvious but essential)
Focus on output, not hours logged
Give autonomy, then verify results
Address problems directly when they arise

We don't track hours or monitor screens. We care about whether work gets done well and on time. So far, this approach has worked.

Async-First, Not Async-Only

"Async-first" means defaulting to asynchronous communication (messages, documents, recorded videos) rather than meetings. But it doesn't mean never meeting synchronously.

When we meet in real-time:

Complex discussions that would take forever in text
Sensitive conversations that need nuance
Brainstorming sessions that benefit from energy
Regular team check-ins for connection

The key is being intentional. Every meeting should have a purpose that justifies pulling people away from focused work.

Create Space for Human Connection

Work isn't just about tasks. Teams need connection to function well. This is harder without an office, but not impossible.

What we've tried:

Virtual coffee chats (random pairings for non-work conversation)
Occasional in-person meetups when possible
Channels for non-work interests
Celebrating wins together, even remotely

Some of these feel awkward. That's okay. The effort matters more than perfection.

Tools Matter, But Less Than You Think

We've tried many tools: Slack, Discord, Notion, Linear, various video platforms. Here's what we've learned:

What actually matters:

Consistency (pick tools and stick with them)
Simplicity (fewer tools, used well)
Clear conventions (how and when to use each tool)

The specific tools matter less than having clear agreements about how to use them.

The Challenges Are Real

Remote work isn't perfect. Honest assessment of the downsides:

Loneliness: Some people struggle with isolation
Boundaries: Work and life blur together
Onboarding: New team members need extra support
Spontaneity: Some creative collisions don't happen

We've lost people who needed more social interaction than remote work provides. That's a real cost.

Making It Work from Iași

Operating from Iași has advantages. The tech community is growing, the cost of living is reasonable, and we can work with clients anywhere in Europe. The timezone alignment with Western Europe makes synchronous collaboration easy when needed.

Conclusion

Remote work isn't inherently better or worse than office work. It's different, with its own trade-offs. For us, the flexibility and focus time outweigh the challenges. But it requires intentional effort to maintain communication, trust, and human connection.

If you're building a remote team or considering going remote, feel free to reach out. We're happy to share more specific practices that have worked for us.