The hottest Team Dynamics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Data Leadership Done Right: Focusing on Work That Matters

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 506 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Focus on what really matters in your work to create an impact, rather than just completing tasks. It's important to understand the value of what you do.
  2. As you grow in your role, ask yourself what projects move the needle for your organization. This questioning mindset helps drive meaningful change.
  3. To advance in your career, be proactive in identifying valuable projects instead of waiting for your manager to tell you what to do. Taking initiative is key to success.

Still Basking in the Glow

Knicks Film School • 833 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🎾 Sports Team Dynamics
  1. New York Knicks are feeling good after a recent win, indicating hope for their future performance.
  2. Key game statistics include Cleveland's success in defending against three-pointers and offensive rebounding by New York.
  3. Player performances, such as Randle's physicality, Quickley's potential for a strong game, and Brunson's decisive plays, greatly influence game outcomes.

TBM 322: Work Shape Mix

The Beautiful Mess • 647 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Companies often deal with three types of work: large projects, independent product work, and new zero-to-one efforts. Each type requires different management and has its own risks.
  2. As a company grows, it shifts from doing new projects to having more complex ones. It’s important to balance these types of work to avoid chaos and inefficiency.
  3. Recognizing when to formalize new processes is crucial. Waiting too long could lead to bigger problems, so it’s key to find a balance between addressing issues and letting some friction stay.

Team got cut. Scope didn’t.

Leading Developers • 160 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. CEOs often make tough decisions that affect employees, like layoffs, but they rarely cut project scopes. This can lead to increased pressure on remaining team members.
  2. After layoffs, teams are expected to be more productive with fewer people, which can create a heavy workload and lead to burnout. It's important to communicate the costs of adding new projects or features.
  3. In a high-pressure environment, it's crucial to map out the new reality and protect your team from burnout by ensuring they have necessary breaks and manage workloads effectively.
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I Was Wrong About Scrum, Again

Rethinking Software • 549 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Team Dynamics
  1. Sprints can feel non-stop and stressful since they don't have breaks, which can lead to burnout. It's suggested that a 'sustainable pace' would help, but taking real breaks might be a simpler solution.
  2. Daily stand-ups can make team members feel pressured to justify their work constantly. However, the intent behind them is not for status updates but to facilitate communication and support.
  3. The role of a Product Owner in Scrum can leave developers feeling sidelined. Developers may worry that their insights are overlooked, but it’s believed that good Product Owners will always prioritize the development team's needs.

More like Micah

Early Plexus News • 176 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Startups usually don't announce the departure of a core team member.
  2. Plexus aims to promote radical authenticity online, inspired by Micah Corning-Myers.
  3. Micah's impact on Plexus is seen in their mission to make people more like him, with a focus on empathy and open communication.

The Tale of Two Teams

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1281 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Software development teams can take two different paths over time - one struggling to maintain progress and innovate, the other accelerating and exceeding expectations.
  2. Executives play a crucial role in steering teams towards successful software development by fostering a culture of continual improvement, tidy code, automation, and collaboration.
  3. Understanding software design fundamentals as an executive can help diagnose ineffective teams, bridge communication gaps between business and technology, and inspire innovation and excellence.

TBM 333: Lean Graph Theory

The Beautiful Mess • 476 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Lean principles are useful for all types of organizations but need to be applied with context in mind. It's important to adapt these ideas rather than stick to a strict method.
  2. Different models like path graphs, directed acyclic graphs, and network graphs help us understand how organizations function. Each model serves a unique purpose, and they often overlap.
  3. Most companies need to balance different approaches based on their growth and challenges. Moving towards more network-oriented and directed models can help improve collaboration and effectiveness.

Questions for the West’s best

TrueHoop • 334 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Team Dynamics
  1. The Lakers are considered talented with an enhanced supporting cast.
  2. The 2024 NBA champion is expected to come from the Western Conference.
  3. Questions remain on how Lakers' coach Darvin Ham will perform in Year Two.

TBM 270: Important Reader PSA

The Beautiful Mess • 1295 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Be cautious discussing heavier topics from newsletters with coworkers to avoid backfire.
  2. Focus on sharing non-threatening, useful ideas at work to align and engage others.
  3. Consider the Trojan Horse approach by introducing valuable, safe-to-fail ideas for deeper discussions.

Stray Thoughts... - You mean Cerberus?

THE BATFLIP • 314 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Team Dynamics
  1. Chris Bassitt reached the 200 inning mark with a stellar performance for the Blue Jays, a rare accomplishment in today's game.
  2. Pitchers going deep into games for 200+ innings is becoming increasingly rare due to injury prevention, expanded bullpens, and awareness of third-time-through-the-order penalty.
  3. Brandon Belt's performance, Rangers' bullpen struggles, and playoff scenarios are important factors to watch for Blue Jays' postseason hopes.

TBM 320: From Fluffy Concepts to Concrete Outcomes & Behaviors

The Beautiful Mess • 555 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. It's important to translate vague concepts into specific behaviors. Instead of saying you want to be 'data-driven,' describe actual actions that show you are doing this.
  2. Discussing behaviors as a team can spark valuable conversations and help everyone understand what needs to change. It allows people to share experiences and ideas in a meaningful way.
  3. When trying to improve team actions, focus on what gets in the way—like training gaps or social pressures. Identifying these barriers helps create better strategies for change.

The Manager’s Iceberg

The Engineering Leader • 159 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Managers do a lot of work behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed. This includes tasks like coaching, resolving conflicts, and setting goals that are crucial for team success.
  2. Being a manager means putting the team's needs first and supporting them to succeed. It can be tough because their work might not get immediate recognition.
  3. It's important to be patient with your manager and understand they have many responsibilities. Asking how you can help them can strengthen your working relationship.

Scrum’s Definition of Done Is Polishing Plates in a Burning Kitchen

Rethinking Software • 499 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Team Dynamics
  1. Scrum's Definition of Done creates extra pressure on developers to deliver perfect work, even when the process is chaotic. It doesn't fix the problems; it just shifts the blame onto the team.
  2. Instead of focusing on quality, Scrum encourages speed and follows strict checklists. This leads to developers cutting corners just to meet unrealistic deadlines.
  3. Real improvements would come from changing the whole process, like allowing more time for reflection, empowering developers, and reducing unnecessary meetings, which would promote better quality work.

Why Ben Johnson is atop the coaching wish list

Go Long with Tyler Dunne • 176 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Team Dynamics
  1. Ben Johnson is a highly sought-after coaching candidate for his innovative play design and dynamic offense building skills.
  2. Being an effective leader in the NFL is not just about X's and O's, but also about instilling belief, accountability, and demanding excellence from players.
  3. Johnson's coaching style is marked by fearlessness in playcalling and an emphasis on detail, communication, and creativity to maximize player skill-sets.

On Compromise

Tech Ramblings • 79 implied HN points • 12 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Team Dynamics
  1. Compromise often leads to disappointment for both sides. Rather than making everyone happy, it can result in a solution that satisfies no one.
  2. Successful teams and individuals stick to their core beliefs and values instead of compromising. Great achievements come from having a clear vision and following it without settling for less.
  3. Instead of focusing on compromise, we should aim to find the truth. Understanding different perspectives can help us make better decisions and avoid mediocrity.

TBM 337: Pirates and Garbage Cans

The Beautiful Mess • 343 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Conflict in companies often stays unresolved because people are afraid to ask for help. This fear can make it look like admitting problems is a weakness.
  2. The Garbage Can model shows that decision-making is messy and often relies on chance rather than a clear process. Conflicts may get ignored until something urgent happens.
  3. Unlike businesses, pirate ships had systems in place for resolving conflicts because surviving together was crucial. Businesses can postpone resolving conflicts without facing immediate consequences, which can lead to bigger problems later.

The workforce is changing, can culture stay the same?

Make Work Better • 92 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. The personalities of workers are changing, with younger generations showing less conscientiousness and extroversion. This could really impact workplace dynamics.
  2. Distractions from smartphones and a focus on individual well-being might be affecting how people engage and perform at work. It's making many less reliable and sociable.
  3. Companies may need to adapt their hiring and workplace cultures to reflect these changes, looking for traits that support team goals and productivity in this new environment.

TBM 227: Explicit vs. Implicit Strategy

The Beautiful Mess • 1507 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. A strategy should be a clear description of challenges, decisions on what to address, and specific actions to impact those challenges.
  2. Translating strategy into tangible goals and budgets is crucial for making it meaningful to people in the organization.
  3. Creating a safe space for hard discussions, dedicating time for strategy development, and focusing on deployment are essential for making a strategy effective.

As star players depart, what's next for Charlotte FC?

The Charlotte Ledger • 117 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Team Dynamics
  1. Charlotte FC faces roster changes as star players depart for European teams, creating opportunities for new players to join.
  2. The departure of key players like Swiderski impacts the team's dynamic and strategy, leaving space for new talents to step up.
  3. Despite the changes, Charlotte FC aims to adapt and strengthen its roster by targeting specific positions like a left-footed center back and right winger.

TBM 278: The Power of Firsthand Experience

The Beautiful Mess • 793 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Having firsthand experience is crucial in understanding product concepts, like observing failed launches or successful market fit.
  2. Seeing a team hit dead ends before succeeding can encourage more leeway for experimentation and resilience.
  3. Direct access to customers, effective team dynamics, and confronting false assumptions can greatly impact decision-making and product success.

Pleasure

Venture Prose • 199 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Friction in relationships often stems from differences and disagreements, rather than one person being solely at fault.
  2. Understanding each other's vulnerabilities and flaws is crucial for building strong relationships.
  3. It's important to find pleasure and enjoyment in your interactions and collaborations with others to maintain healthy relationships.

Founder DNA

The Leadership Lab • 196 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Every aspect of your team's culture reflects your strengths, blind spots, and dysfunctional behaviors as a leader.
  2. Founder DNA influences how teams adopt a leader's habits and behavioral patterns, leading to organizational dysfunction.
  3. Team culture stems directly from a leader's psychological and relational patterns, affecting how employees interact and behave within the organization.

Navigating the Shift from Feature to Product Teams and Building a Product Mindset

An Innovator's Sketchbook • 98 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Transitioning from feature to product teams involves empowering cross-functional teams focused on outcomes and value.
  2. The localization industry is evolving with AI, leading to job destruction but also creating new business opportunities.
  3. Feedback is important for team growth, and using the 'Situation-Behavior-Impact' framework can lead to effective and powerful feedback.

One for the Snowflakes

The Weasel Speaks • 98 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Team Dynamics
  1. Understand the problem thoroughly by considering at least three alternative solutions.
  2. Don't assume your problem is unique; seek out existing solutions and collaborate with others.
  3. Break down silos within organizations by encouraging communication and collaboration across teams for better learning and innovation.

TBM 224: The Black Box

The Beautiful Mess • 1190 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Work issues can be like a black box - unseen and complex workings
  2. Just having visibility over the box doesn't guarantee resolving its issues
  3. Introducing new measures without understanding the actual problems may not help

ShuHaRi

Wisdom over Waves • 139 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. ShuHaRi model involves following rules, breaking away from them, and creating your own rules.
  2. Transition from valued practices to rigid processes can lead to loss of dynamism and creativity.
  3. It's important to adhere to the spirit of practices, not just the letter, to avoid destructive outcomes.

7 proven mental models for engineering managers

Leading Developers • 218 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Use mental models to help make better decisions as a manager. They can guide you to avoid mistakes and think more clearly.
  2. Consider the opposite of what you want to achieve. This helps in identifying what to avoid and improves decision-making.
  3. Always think about the long-term effects of your choices. It's important to consider not just what happens now, but what could happen later.

TBM 202: Something Has To Give

The Beautiful Mess • 1309 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
💼 Business Team Dynamics
  1. Overcrowding in an environment leads to stress and aggression among the inhabitants.
  2. High cognitive load can result in slower decision-making, errors, and overall stress.
  3. When overwhelmed, people tend to focus on immediate tasks, leading to decreased performance and potential system failure.