Growing teamsNotes of a young team gardener

Andrejs Grāveandrejs.grave@gmail.com@andreygrave

About myself● 12+ years in software development

● worked in different environments and roles

● developer @

Why “teams”? Why “growing”?

“Gardener”? Are You serious?

http://www.innovationlabs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Great-Team-2.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gs6uqZ0NY9g/UEGnQXJwsZI/AAAAAAAAHQw/gcODf6tnGTE/the-expendables-2-team.jpg?imgmax=800

http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/4d3e38fc49e2ae224e370000-480/microsoft-1978.jpg

Can You build it?

Can You build it?

No!

It’s alive!http://www.mbu-a.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/GRAPHIC_YoungFrankenstein-20120419.jpg

But you can try to grow one

http://tonyrollo.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/seed_to_plant_growth.jpg

Growing great teams

https://img0.etsystatic.com/020/1/6791412/il_fullxfull.482239814_qief.jpg

Common goal

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3228/3137422976_fe5f9bc44e_o_d.jpg

Common goal● clear to everyone on a team

Common goal● clear to everyone on a team● related to business

Common goal● clear to everyone on a team● related to business● bit challenging

Common goal● clear to everyone on a team● related to business● bit challenging

S.M.A.R.T. goal!

Challenging goal == better team spirit?

People

“Engineering is easy.

People are hard.”Bill Coughran, former senior vicepresident of engineering at Google

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Flickr_-_moses_namkung_-_The_Crowd_For_DMB_1.jpg

Great team member who are You?

● professional & positive attitude● do whatever needs to be done● always ready to help● social skills?

HRT principle

HRT principle

● Humility - understanding that you are not center of universe

HRT principle

● Humility - understanding that you are not center of universe

● Respect - you care about others you work with

HRT principle

● Humility - understanding that you are not center of universe

● Respect - you care about others you work with

● Trust - you believe other are competent and will do the right thing

Lack of HRT

● fear of conflicts● fear to express ideas (even crazy ones)● fear to fail, or not to meet expectations● fear ask for help

HRT in practice

● lose ego● learn patience● learn to give and receive feedback● be open to influence

HRT in practice

● lose ego● learn patience● learn to give and receive feedback● be open to influence

MORE PAIR PROGRAMMING

MORE CODE REVIEWS

MORE COLLABORATION

Communication behaviors

MIT’s Human Dynamics Laboratory research

Communication behaviors

5-to-1Interactions in highly effective teams

positive / negative

Communication behaviors

5-to-1Interactions in highly effective teams

positive / negative

Communication behaviors

5-to-1Interactions in highly effective teams

positive / negative

Communication behaviors

5-to-1Interactions in highly effective teams

positive / negative

Beware

● poisonous people

Beware

● poisonous people behaviour

Beware

● poisonous people behaviour

Beware

● poisonous people behaviour

Beware

● poisonous people behaviour

Beware

● poisonous people● low performers

Beware

● poisonous people● low performers

Beware

● poisonous people● low performers● low hiring bar

Culture

http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/files/2013/09/1983-London-Punks-Brixton.jpg

Culture

● common values

Culture

● common values● traditions

Culture

● common values● traditions● identity

Culture

● common values● traditions● identity● strong culture accepts improvements, resists

to change that harms it

Culture

● common values● traditions● identity● strong culture accepts improvements, resists

to change that harms it● share culture with stories

There is even a term now “Culture Hacking”

Environment

Environment

● flat structure● team autonomy● embrace failure● encourages learning

Teamicide

● bureaucracy● defensive management● fragmentation of time● ...

Change environment?

Change environment?

“It’s Easier to Ask for Forgiveness Than Permission”

“Do the right thing, wait to get fired”Chade-Meng Tan, longtime Google engineer

Grace Murray Hopper, co-inventor of COBOL

Continuous Learning

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQoOCCtwFyYWqZOrw6UpAyE_crzQrXc7F7Jg4CB1dlthvgYcr3oxw

Continuous Learning

● Learning time (20% time)

Continuous Learning

● Learning time (20% time)● Retrospectives

Continuous Learning

● Learning time (20% time)● Retrospectives● Challenges

Continuous Learning

● Learning time (20% time)● Retrospectives● Challenges● R&D days

Continuous Learning

● Learning time (20% time)● Retrospectives● Challenges● R&D days● Brown bag sessions

Continuous Learning

● Learning time (20% time)● Retrospectives● Challenges● R&D days● Brown bag sessions● ...

Growing great teams

✔ SMART goal✔ great people✔ culture✔ environment✔ continuous learning✔ ?

http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1145201.ece/alternates/s2197/

YOUR TEAM NEEDS YOU

Build habits,inspire people,

grow teams,make impact.

http://www.stl.unitedway.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/plant-growing-in-concrete-587x391.jpg

References