Thriving in a Lean Marketing Ops Team
If you’ve ever been the one-person marketing ops team wearing all the hats, this one’s for you.
At Mops-apalooza 2024, I shared lessons from my own journey — from lone wolf to team builder to consultant — and what it takes to not just survive but scale as a small MOPs team. Because let’s be real: being “small but mighty” isn’t just a vibe. It’s a survival strategy.
The Reality of Small MOPs Teams
Small teams face unique pressures. We’re often expected to do it all — and do it flawlessly.
Here are a few challenges that will feel familiar to many of you:
- Balancing volume vs quality
- Struggling to carve out time for strategic work
- Learning how (and when) to say “no”
- Working in isolation, without like-minded peers
- Constantly juggling priorities
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Staying Focused When Everything Feels Urgent
One of the hardest parts of being in a small team is focus — because when you’re pulled in all directions, nothing moves forward.
That’s where a maturity model can help. It gives you a framework for assessing where you are today and what to prioritize next — without getting stuck in firefighting mode.
Steps to stay focused:
- Anchor to your org’s priorities, not just requests
- Use documented workflows to reduce rework
- Timebox strategic thinking (yes, put it on your calendar)
- Don’t confuse “urgent” with “important”
Is It Time to Hire?
Every solo MOPs hero hits a tipping point. Here’s how to spot it:
- Projects pile up faster than you can finish them
- Key initiatives are getting delayed (or dropped)
- You’re stuck in tactical mode 90% of the time
When that happens, you’ve got three options:
- Build the case: Use data to justify headcount
- Get creative: Explore agencies, freelancers, contractors
- Automate: Free up time with smarter tooling
Tips to Scale Without Burning Out
Scaling isn’t just about hiring. It’s about setting up systems that make growth easier. Here are three things I always recommend:
Document your processes 🧾 Create playbooks and templates now — not later. Future-you will thank you.
Choose tools with care 🛠️ It’s tempting to grab what’s cheap or easy, but choose platforms that can scale with you.
Align cross-functionally 🔁 Educate your peers on what MOPs does (and doesn’t do). You’re not a vending machine — you’re a strategic partner.
Final Thought
I’ve gone from solo-operator to growing teams of 8+ and now support global SaaS orgs as an independent consultant. And what I know for sure is this:
Being small isn’t a weakness, it’s an opportunity to build smarter, leaner, and with more intention.
Your size doesn’t define your impact. Your structure does.
