Pressure Doesn't Work: Build Teams the Right Way

"Putting pressure on a software team to deliver faster is the absolute worst thing you can do!" is the uncomfortable truth every engineering leader should hear.

In my journey as an engineering leader, I've often found myself in hot water for refusing to put pressure on my team. However, resisting the urge to apply pressure is imperative for sustainable team performance.

Here's why:

• Pressure Incubates Defects: As shown by Elisabeth Hendrickson's simulation, when a team is under constant pressure, quality deteriorates, and the team grinds to a halt as a result. The rush to meet deadlines with a fixed goal in mind results in software that is frustrating to use and fails to deliver business value.
• Burnout is a Productivity Killer: Continuous pressure wears down the team, leading to burnout. This not only affects their current productivity but can also have long-term impacts on their mental health and career satisfaction.
• Customer-Centricity Takes a Backseat: Under pressure, teams pivot from creating value for the customer to merely appeasing leadership demands. This shift can derail the product from its intended purpose and market fit.

The Result? More delays and inferior outcomes.

The Alternative

When you notice your team struggling to ship on time, try easing the pressure rather than ramping it up. Focus on:

• Understanding Customer Priorities: Help your team align with customer-centric goals. This ensures that even small deliveries are impactful and meaningful.
• Encourage Incremental Improvements: Foster a culture where small, continuous improvements are valued and released on a short cadence. This will get you return on investment sooner and customer feedback that motivates the team.
• Pay Attention to Feedback, and Learn: Make sure you create psychological safety, by not only listening to feedback, but taking responsibility and acting on that feedback.

The Outcome: Your team might not deliver everything planned, but what they do deliver will be customer satisfaction and tangible business value.

As a leader, navigating this path is tough but crucial for building resilient, effective teams. Facing similar challenges or seeking advice on creating a more productive team dynamic? Benefit from my free 30-minute consultation. Contact me to explore strategies that have worked for me and could work for you too.