“It’s going to be expensive when people start leaving the team.”
That’s a common refrain when people talk about dysfunctional teams. The implication is that someone must quit before the team will pay the cost for its poor culture.
So here’s my question: how much does THIS cost?:
Boredom, lack of motivation and holding back. Much less obvious, but probably even more expensive than people actually leaving.
Hint: This is what it feels like to receive a 100-page document.
If you send a teammate a 100-page document (business requirements, spec, etc), there’s a pretty good chance that that teammate will interpret the gesture as a bit of an insult. Here’s why:
Here’s the message that a 100-page document communicates: my time is more valuable than yours.
If you send big-honking documents to people, it’s OK,we still love you. But you should stop.
And what if your organization encourages a throw-it-over-the-wall culture? This is an issue that’s worth leading on. Lead by example: Keep it short, break it up and involve your teammates throughout the process!
