Team Too Big? Try Two Pizza Rule
Teamwork is crucial to success, but the ideal team size has always been a hot topic. However, one thing that is evident is that big teams often create more problems than solutions. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, came up with a concept called the “Two Pizza Rule,” meaning if a team can’t be fed with two large pies, it’s too large. In this article, we will delve into why big teams can pose problems, the importance of having the right team size, and why adopting the Two Pizza rule is a smart business decision.
Why Big Teams Can Be Problematic
The fundamental problem with big teams lies in communication. It becomes increasingly challenging to ensure open communication among members as the team grows. Members struggle to keep up with teammates’ ideas, leading to missed opportunities, missed deadlines, and low-quality deliverables, all of which decrease productivity. Large teams also lack clarity and alignment. To achieve common goals, a team must have a shared understanding of how to accomplish them. Maintaining clarity becomes arduous when too many people work together, resulting in a different interpretation of what needs to be done. Further, a long chain of command can leave team members feeling disengaged, anonymous, and unmotivated.
The Importance of Having the Right Team Size
A lean team fosters a culture of creativity, collaboration, and accountability and increases engagement and a sense of ownership over the project. Smaller team sizes also provide better access to resources as members are familiar with one another’s expertise and can work better together, adapt to changing environments quickly, and make decisions more easily and transparently, reducing redundancy and bureaucracy.
Establishing the Two Pizza Rule
To apply the Two Pizza Rule, leaders should evaluate current team structures, restructure them as necessary and break up larger teams into smaller, more focused teams that are more likely to work better together, communicate better, and have better output. Teams should consist of around six to ten members, with combined expertise to achieve their goals.
The Benefits of the Two Pizza Rule in Business
The Two Pizza Rule yields significant business outcomes; with improved communication, team members have better visibility of each other’s work, promoting better coordination. Smaller teams have a higher sense of ownership and a shared sense of purpose, leading to better decision making and reduced bureaucracy. Member engagement and motivation are increased, and efficiency is improved, with faster, smoother delivery of jobs and a more dynamic approach to problem-solving.
Conclusion
The Two Pizza Rule is an effective approach to building high-performance teams, promoting optimal communication, accountability, and engagement for more efficient, productive, and successful collaboration among team members. Consider adopting the Two Pizza Rule in your organization for better business outcomes.