CultureOptimize for Inspiration

Having been in the industry for some time, I've experienced various roles – from co-CTO in a self-funded startup to Engineering Manager in here (Factorial), and later as an Engineering Director, before returning to the role of an Individual Contributor.

Throughout my journey, I've consistently sought inspiration in teams, mirroring the pursuit we all share in life. I firmly believe it's not merely an aspirational goal or a nice-to-have; rather, it's the lifeblood of any thriving company.

So, what do I mean by inspiration? Let’s examine this through two team archetypes I’ve observed:

The Inspired Team’s traits:

1. Decisiveness: Team members possess the autonomy to make critical decisions.
2. Trust: The ability to rely on each other is the foundation of their collaboration.
3. Deep Work: Team members are deeply focused and with minimal distractions.
4. Agility: They quickly adapt to new challenges, showcasing flexibility and resilience.
5. Detail-Oriented: They go above and beyond to make sure things are not only delivered but polished.
6. Organic: Their interactions are informal and happen at any time without the need to check calendar availability (because it’s mostly free).
7. Controlled Complexity: Their work is laid on top of good foundations.

The Uninspired Team’s traits:

1. Endless verification: A constant need for checks that’s rooted in insecurity.
2. Rigid: They commit to overly strict plans with little space for creativity or assuming risks.
3. Frequent Errors: Mistakes are common due to ambiguous goals.
4. Dispassionate: Tasks seen as chores rather than opportunities.
5. Past-Bound: The team gets easily stuck in past commitments, unable to react to opportunity and change.
6. Demoralized: Meetings are long and dispassionate.
7. Overwhelmed by complexity: Problems at every layer have become cumbersome, impacting productivity and progress.

By now, you've likely been able to classify past experiences in one of these two buckets. Nevertheless, did you notice an odd pattern? Well, I’ll tell you:

Uninspired teams tend to communicate more, not less.

Counterintuitive, right? Well, it makes sense when you think about it. If a team were a well-oiled machine, you'd expect it to be silent most of the time, with every piece performing its function at top performance. The moment it starts squeaking and grinding, it means there's friction and something needs to be fixed.

Constant meetings and validations signal a lack of clarity, hesitation, trying to find comfort in familiarity, and ultimately, aversion to risk and to take bold, innovative leaps forward. After all, when everybody is aligned and determined to pursue a mission, there’s not much to be said, isn’t it?

So, before trying to fix uninspired teams with more meetings, think twice: Why are they uninspired? If yes, what can I do to overcome it?

Well, of course, there’s no single thing you can do, otherwise it’d be too easy. Instead of looking for a simple solution, I’d encourage you to change your mindset. Here are a few tricks I’ve learned along the way:

• For managers, Lead your team, don't just manage tasks. Invest in quality communication that makes your team genuinely enthusiastic about tackling challenges. Show enthusiasm yourself. Convince your team through your passion, not through your authority. Work on your communication skills and craft engaging narratives that embody your vision. Become as good as you can at understanding what moves people, and tirelessly work on aligning what people want to solve with what you need to get solved.
• For individual contributors, set an example. Challenge assumptions, call out unproductive meetings, maintain high standards, and motivate others through your work. Cultivate agency. Learn to say no when your gut tells you. Stronghold quality, precision, and effective action. Your team, manager, and the entire company will value it. And if it works for you, lead the way in inspiring others, and make it contagious!

Let’s transform our workplaces into havens of creativity, engagement, and trust where every team member feels valued, empowered, and eager to climb the highest mountain.

Optimize for inspiration!