As a non-technical founder, tracking the progress of your development team can be a challenge.

The technical tasks may not always be clear to you, even if developers assure you they are necessary. This can make it tough to gauge whether progress is on track, especially when the team is partially or fully remote.

So, how can you ensure you're in tune with the development process? Is the pace too slow, too fast, or just right? Yes, we're applying the Goldilocks principle here!

The key is regular, meaningful updates.

You should expect daily check-ins that include the following elements:

What was done yesterday: A brief summary of the work completed.

Plans for today: What tasks are being tackled next?

Potential roadblocks: Developers should raise any issues that could delay tasks or prevent them from being completed as planned.
These updates will help you assess whether development is progressing as expected.

Alongside check-ins, you want to hear thoughtful questions: Developers should ask for clarification, especially for new tasks or unclear requirements.

While these updates are important, it's also important to recognise what is unacceptable.

Here are some red flags that may indicate deeper issues:

Missed updates: signals a lack of understanding the purpose and benefit of updates.

Saying yes to everything: If the developer is constantly agreeing to tasks without realistically assessing the workload or deadlines.

Consistently missed deadlines: If deadlines are repeatedly missed without reasonable explanations or adjustments, it indicates a lack of focus and possibly capability.

It’s OK to raise these concerns once or twice, but if they become a pattern, it is time to look for a new developer.

By setting clear expectations for your team, you'll find it easier to stay on top of progress. This helps to reduce stress levels and creates a regular framework for your team in which to operate.