Amongst the wide variety of work we have carried out over the last 17 years helping clients learn how to work effectively in teams is an area where we have a great deal of experience. One of the key lessons that both we and our clients have learnt is that when it comes to effective team working "size matters".
We have found that the number of people in an effective team is from 2 to no more than 8. Once numbers get above this team effectiveness starts to diminish. Now 8 seems quite a small number so how can we justify our assertion? Well we have discovered that there are 7 fundamental dimensions to how people can work together that constrain what is or is not possible. These are:
1. Group Dynamics - Human beings are social animals, we naturally tend to do things with other people, but not always very effectively or consistently; one major variable is how many of us are in the acting group. Experience and observation tell us that wherever there are more than 8 people in an acting group, everything can all become much less easy and harmonious.
2. Behaviour Management - 8 people or fewer have the potential capability to manage their own behaviour together (which does not mean that they will), a larger number cannot.
3. Agenda - It is very difficult for more than 8 people to share and take ownership of a single agenda.
4. Motivation - Once again more than 8 people are unlikely to find and sustain a mutual motivation together; more than 8 have to be manipulated or controlled in some way.
5. Direction - 8 people working together can maintain direction towards the outcome they all want to achieve. With more than 8 this gets progressively more difficult.
6. Method - Sticking to an effective process requires self-motivation, self-discipline, open communication and a tight focus on shared objectives. All of this is possible for small groups but gets much more difficult for larger groups.
7. Language - The ability to think clearly can be distorted by the use of language. Because personal communication is the safest way to prevent this happening small groups are more likely to develop and use an effective language together than large groups.
I hope this has given you something to think about with regards to your own team working. But what has this got to do with the European Union? Well, when originally formed there were 6 member countries. This increased to 9 when the UK, Ireland and Denmark joined. Today there 28 member countries!
Can this ever actually work? A "deep thort" I leave you to ponder on.
