Boosting team productivity during growth stages

A team can achieve remarkable outcomes when it operates within an inspiring mission and a supportive environment, but productivity can be hindered by diverse priorities and ineffective structures as a team grows. An example of this is a software development team that initially thrived with a cohesive unit but faced declining productivity when the team expanded, the customer base grew, and the workload became overwhelming. The key to reversing this decline involved categorizing tasks, identifying distinct domains of work, reducing dependencies between teams, and establishing smaller, mission-driven teams. By implementing gradual changes rather than revolutionary ones, the team improved its focus, accountability, and collaboration, leading to increased productivity and motivation. This approach highlighted the importance of a clear mission, small agile teams, and minimal dependencies to foster a productive and motivated work environment.