How Amir Salihefendić Scaled Doist with Asynchronous Work
For many SaaS and software leaders, the pivot to remote work in 2020 presented an exciting chance to re-evaluate how their companies truly operate. However, this often led to an unexpected consequence: employees found themselves spending more time in video calls than in office meetings, leading to significant impacts on well-being and productivity. If “Zoom fatigue” and the constant pressure of being “always on” sound familiar, it’s time to explore a fundamentally different approach to work.
Amir Salihefendić, CEO and founder of Doist (the company behind Todoist and Twist), firmly believes that the future of work (whether fully remote, hybrid, or even back in the office) demands a new model of asynchronous communication. Doist itself has been remote-first since 2010 and asynchronous-first for many years, successfully scaling with over 120 people across 30 countries with no outside investment. This isn’t just about tools; it’s a “philosophy and a way to communicate”.
It’s about having the freedom to collaborate on your own timelines, not everyone else’s. Think of email as the “old school” asynchronous method, in contrast to live talks or meetings, which are synchronous. This approach allows individuals to protect their most productive hours for deep focus and creative flow, and to measure productivity by outcomes, not just hours spent.
