The Two Questions Guiding Self-Organising Teams

Time to update this classic post!

[Tl;Dr: Navigating the complexities of self-organising teams isn’t a walk in the park, but these questions can serve as your compass.]

Start with these crucial questions

1. “What is the purpose of this team from the peerspective of all the Folks That Matter™?”
2. “What measures will the team* use to understand and improve its work?”

*For avaidance of ambiguity, it’s down to the team to choose and track their measures (not managers, not customers, etc.).

Misconceptions: Self-Organising Isn’t So Clear-Cut

Ever been embedded in a self-organising unit? It’s anything but straightforward. In theory, it’s about people coming together to figure things out. But the lived experience is something else entirely, full of nuanced emotions and dynamics you’ve got to experience to fully grasp.

The Learning Curve

Need to understand self-organising teams? If you’re new to it, learning on the job is okay, especially with a seasoned coach guiding the way. If you’re joining an already self-organising team, they’ll help you fit in without breaking stride.

But if you’re in a leadership role, misunderstanding the concept can lead you to unintentionally sabotage the very benefits you’re trying to foster. Benefits which include:

• Elevated engagement
• Focused commitment
• Alignment with organisational purpose
• Improved morale
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Productivity
• Increased speed  of delivery

The Oblique Approach

Chasing these benefits head-on can make them elusive. Instead, approaches like Fellowship, Servant Leadership or Host Leadership can create a more fertile ground. The key is not pushing for self-organisation but enabling a space for purposeful dialogue.

Paradox of Attention

Oddly enough, the more you make self-organising your goal, the more you push it away:

• Emphasise self-organising, and it weakens.
• Focus on the team’s purpose, and it strengthens.

Further Reading

Stack, J. (1992). The Great Game of Business. Doubleday.
Greenleaf, R. K. (1998). The Power of Servant Leadership. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
McKergow, M. (2014). Host Leadership. Solutions Books.
Kay, J. (2010). Obliquity: Why our goals are best achieved indirectly. Profile Books.
Whitmore, J. (2002). Coaching for Performance. Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
Seddon, J. (2003). Freedom From Command & Control. Vanguard Press.
Derby, E. (2018). Misconceptions About Self-Organising Teams. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from [insert website].