Unpacking the Power of Team Habits [@Young Upstarts]

People aren't the only component of teams

My interview at Young Upstarts was published today. It covers some ground that you may be familiar with, but the way I answered the question below is crisper than in other ways I’ve said it before:

You say that most teams want to address their “people” problems when in reality they have “habit” problems. That seems paradoxical since teams are made up of people.

The perceived paradox there is resolved when people realize that teams aren’t merely collections of people; teams are made up of people plus their team habits plus the larger culture or work environment in which they actually perform their roles.

Consider how many times individuals enter and exit a team while the team’s performance and behaviors virtually stay the same. Changing people is, and always will be, a tall order — an unreasonable and difficult demand. Changing team habits, on the other hand, is exceedingly easier and simpler. What’s more, focusing on team habits depersonalizes the challenge. People don’t want to be changed; they are, however, open to changing how they do things.

The last line is what I want you to sit with for today.

Where are you trying to change a person and how would you approach it if it was about changing how you’re doing things together?