Case Study 4 - Transforming Team Dynamics: A Journey to High Performance
Background: Uneven Progress
The Company had already made progress in improving team dynamics and efficiency. Previous efforts such as to introduce skilled Scrum Masters had successfully elevated parts of the organization, setting a solid foundation. However, there was still untapped potential to foster deeper collaboration and alignment.
Despite these efforts, team dynamics and team development skills remained uneven across the organization. Some teams thrived under skilled leadership, while others struggled with unclear communication, a lack of trust, and inefficiencies. Leadership recognized an opportunity to build on the organization’s foundational successes and create a consistent culture of high performance across all teams. We were brought in to support this initiative with our deep knowledge of team development and facilitation techniques.
Challenge: Bridging the Gaps
Certain teams faced persistent challenges despite the initial improvements.
Team leaders, such as Scrum Masters and line managers, were expected to address interpersonal challenges, optimize workflows, and elevate team performance on their own. However, they often lacked the tools and structured processes needed to achieve sustainable results. This left teams vulnerable to unresolved tensions, inconsistent progress, and a reliance on reactive measures. Leadership saw the need for a scalable approach to equip all teams with the skills and support required for success.
Solution: A Structured Development Initiative
Team Development Crew
The Company launched the Team Development Crew, a cross-functional team where the members provided expertise and also representation across several functions working with team development in the organisation, such as Line Managers, HR Business Partners and Scrum Master and Change Managers. We at Both and More were also part of this crew, providing additional in depth knowledge in team development and facilitation expertise. This dedicated team was tasked with addressing the specific challenges faced by individual teams and creating a framework for consistent improvement across the organization.
By naturally applying Both-And-More Thinking Principles such as Clarity and Collaboration and Individual Brilliance and Team Synergy, the Team Development Crew balanced structure with flexibility and ensured that interventions supported both immediate results and long-term cultural shifts. This mindset allowed the Crew to address systemic challenges without disrupting what was already working well.
Structured Team Development Using GDQ
The Team Development Crew made use of the Group Development Questionnaire (GDQ), a scientifically validated tool based on Susan Wheelan’s Integrated Model of Group Development (IMGD). The GDQ provided clear insights into team dynamics, allowing targeted interventions.
The process included:
Teams completing the GDQ with the guidance of certified coaches, ensuring clarity and engagement.
Collaborative workshops where team members reviewed results, identified priorities, and co-created strategies for improvement.
Regular follow-ups to adapt strategies as teams evolved, fostering sustained development.
This approach exemplified Clarity and Collaboration, combining the rigor of data-driven insights with the empathy required to engage teams collaboratively in designing their own solutions.
Team Development Toolbox
A key innovation of the initiative was the creation of a Team Development Toolbox. This comprehensive resource included good practices, guides, tools, meeting structures, and more—all tailored to the different stages of team development.
Initially developed by the Team Development Crew using BothAndMore’s extensive knowledge of tools and guides, the toolbox was designed to empower team coaches, such as Scrum Masters, by providing quick access to relevant resources and inspiration for team development. To ensure its ongoing relevance, Scrum Masters were invited to own and maintain the toolbox by contributing new tools and updating existing ones.
The toolbox showcased Consistency and Evolution, preserving tried-and-true methods while remaining open to innovation and adaptation, creating a living resource that evolved alongside the organization’s needs.
Leadership Coaching
Leadership development was a critical element of the initiative. Team leaders received personalized coaching to help them address prioritized topics identified during the GDQ process. This coaching focused on enabling leaders to:
Reflect on workshop outcomes and refine their strategies.
Foster psychological safety and open dialogue within their teams.
Transition from managing issues to facilitating team growth and autonomy.
Coaching also encouraged leaders to embody Confidence and Humility, balancing decisiveness in their decisions with the willingness to adapt and listen to team feedback. This dual approach built trust and credibility within teams while reinforcing sustainable leadership practices.
Results: Measurable Growth Across the Organization
The initiative produced tangible improvements, transforming The Company’s team dynamics and operational efficiency.
It is important to note that the team development initiatives were voluntary, and teams had the autonomy to decide how much they engaged with the available services. For those teams that embraced the opportunities and support provided, these are some of the observed results.
Increased Delivery Focus: Teams demonstrated significantly improved focus on deliveries, achieving greater transparency in their goals and incremental outcomes.
Enhanced Psychological Safety: Psychological safety within teams increased notably, enabling members to challenge assumptions and take bold steps, such as migrating to a new platform.
Improved Delivery Capacity: Teams reported a 20% increase in delivery capacity, with enhanced predictability and engagement in achieving incremental goals.
Fostering a Feedback Culture: Teams developed a strong feedback culture, leading to higher trust and collaboration among team members.
Shift to Cross-Functional Work: The reliance on individual experts was reduced as teams transitioned to cross-functional collaboration, promoting autonomy and broader skill distribution.
Boosted Productivity and Efficiency: Improved collaboration and reduced decision-making friction resulted in a 20–30% increase in delivery performance, while development cycles shortened by 15–20%, accelerating time-to-market.
Higher Quality and Reduced Rework: Enhanced quality processes reduced rework and bug-fixing costs, improving overall project profitability.
Increased Employee Retention: Team satisfaction and engagement contributed to a 15–25% reduction in turnover, resulting in significant savings on recruitment and onboarding costs, avoiding the high expense of replacing skilled engineers.
Optimized Resource Utilization: Autonomous, self-organizing teams improved resource allocation and reduced bottlenecks, creating potential for a 10–15% increase in innovative product features.
Enhanced Cross-Functional Collaboration: Better communication between teams minimized delays and improved coordination across departments.
Reduced Time in Meetings: Clearer roles and improved self-organization eliminated unnecessary meetings, saving teams significant time annually.
Throughout the process, Both-And-More Thinking Principles naturally emerged as teams balanced short-term actions with long-term planning, technical rigor with empathetic engagement, and structure with adaptability—reflecting the organization’s growing capacity to navigate complexity.
Conclusion: Building a High-Performance Culture
The Company’s journey highlights the power of structured team development combined with the natural integration of balanced priorities.
By addressing uneven team dynamics and empowering leaders with the right tools, The Company unlocked new levels of collaboration, trust, and efficiency. This case underscores the importance of building on existing strengths while addressing areas for growth. Sustainable success comes from navigating complexity and integrating diverse perspectives, as demonstrated by The Company’s thoughtful and balanced approach to meaningful change.