by: Johaimalin Castillo

Organizations live and breathe through their teams. When teams thrive, companies excel. But when teams struggle, performance falters. So what enables some leaders to cultivate elite teams that achieve phenomenal results?

That pressing question has motivated Agile Meridian Partner Kumar Dattatreyan throughout his 30-year career advising organizations on team dynamics. In a recent interview, Kumar drew on decades of experience to share his insights on common pitfalls that undermine team effectiveness, a case study of transforming a dysfunctional group into high-performing teams, and balancing demanding performance with caring for team members' well-being.

AM: What aspect of the Agile DC event were you looking forward to the most?

K: An organization is like an organism. Cells are what keep an organism alive and healthy - each cell has a specific function, and without cells, organisms cannot survive. Similarly, high-performing teams are like the cells in an organization's body. Without strong teams, an organization is likely to struggle and fail.

What leads to high-performing teams? Why do some organizations do better at enabling and supporting teams than others? These questions have fascinated me throughout my 30-year career. In this talk, I will share my thoughts and experiences related to creating and sustaining high-performing teams within organizations.

AM: What are some common pitfalls you see leaders and organizations fall into that prevent high performance?

K: One common pitfall I've observed is organizations becoming too large and unwieldy. The concept of “team” is also not applied correctly, with many organizations assembling large groups of people only to dismantle them once a project is complete.  What a waste of talent and potential!  

Another issue is inadequate leadership and management. When leaders don't provide clear direction, alignment, and coaching, teams flounder. Micromanagement stifles initiative, while absence of management allows confusion and misalignment.

Organizations also go astray when they treat employees as mere individuals rather than fostering a collaborative team environment. People need to feel part of something larger than themselves to bring their best each day.

Finally, a lack of autonomy and trust can destroy engagement. The most productive teams I've seen have been self-organizing with authority to make decisions and take action. Excess oversight just gets in the way.

The key is striking the right balance - aligning on vision and values, providing resources and support, then getting out of the way. With that foundation, skilled teams will carry an organization far.

AM: Can you share a story of a dysfunctional team you helped transform into a high performing one? What were the key factors?

K: I had the great experience working with a dysfunctional team at a client site. While the experience itself was challenging, the outcome was rewarding.

The team was very large - over 30 members across three different time zones. The size made coordination difficult, but the bigger issue was the team's management. This was not a cohesive team, just a group of individuals working on the same project without a shared purpose.

The first steps were to meet with management to understand their expectations and struggles, and explain the benefits of small, self-organizing, autonomous teams. It took over a year just to overcome these challenges.

Eventually, we organized the team into groups of no more than 7 people within the same time zones. We also set up a rotating leadership council with one member from each team. The team leaders changed every two weeks so that everyone had a chance to lead and serve the team.

These changes created highly productive teams that actually outpaced their customers' ability to use their output! Transforming this dysfunctional group into successful, self-managed teams was an incredible experience.

AM: How can leaders balance demanding high performance with caring for team members' well-being and preventing burnout?

K: Leading teams to excel while avoiding burnout requires walking a tightrope of care, compassion and calibration. It takes intentional effort to create an environment where people can sustainably perform at their peak.

First, establish a culture of psychological safety so team members feel comfortable raising concerns before they escalate. Make it normal to discuss workload, stress levels, and work-life balance. Destigmatize needing breaks or support.

Listen closely not just to output, but energy levels and moods. Note signs of exhaustion or disengagement and dig into root causes. Show you prioritize people’s overall well-being, not just short-term results.

Promote celebrations of achievements big and small to fuel positivity. But temper pressures to overwork with encouragement to refresh and recharge. And before you do that for your team, model that for yourself first.  Not walking the talk will lead your team astray as they try and emulate your work-rate.  

Help the team find harmony through autonomy, mastery and purpose. Allow flexibility in how work gets done, while aligning on the mission for the team or organization.

Track tangible metrics, but also take the pulse of human needs. Nourish body, mind and spirit. Be flexible on form if values are held firm. With care and trust, your team will soar.

Leadership is not a sprint but a marathon and maintaining a sustainable pace will help you and your team keep burnout at bay.

Hopefully this provides a glimpse into the practical wisdom he shared. For those seeking to enable their teams to excel, his Agile DC presentation provided invaluable guidance backed by decades of experience. Those who attended likely walked away inspired with new perspectives on building better teams.

If you want to dive deeper into Kumar's research and recommendations, you can download his full Agile DC presentation deck here. The deck expands on the topics Kumar covered during the conference, providing actionable tips, frameworks, and case studies for transforming teams. Whether you're looking to fix dysfunction, spur high performance, or avoid burnout, Kumar's presentation provides a wealth of practical guidance.

Download the Agile DC deck today and unlock even more insights on creating championship teams that deliver phenomenal results. With Kumar's decades of expertise at your fingertips, you'll be equipped to bring out the best in your people and culture. Take the first step towards building better teams now!