Creating Great Teams, Second Edition

How Self-Selection Lets People Excel

by Sandy Mamoli and David Mole

People are happiest and most productive if they can choose what they work on and who they work with. Self-selecting teams give people that choice. Build well-designed and efficient teams to get the most out of your organization, with step-by-step instructions on how to set up teams quickly and efficiently. This new edition highlights ten years of additional insights, real-world case studies, and adaptations for remote and hybrid environments. Learn from the successes and challenges faced by organizations worldwide as they implemented self-selection, and discover a practical roadmap to unlocking team potential and fostering a culture of autonomy and engagement.

Discover the transformative power of self-selection in building high-performing, motivated teams. Whether you’re a manager seeking to revitalize your team, an HR professional looking to innovate recruitment, or a leader aiming to cultivate a more agile and responsive organization, this book offers the tools and insights necessary to create teams that excel.

Learn to implement a self-selection event, a revolutionary approach that forms teams based on mutual interests and strengths, leading to increased levels of engagement and productivity. Adapt self-selection processes for remote and hybrid environments. Use step-by-step guidance on preparing for, executing, and following up on self-selection events to ensure smooth transitions and high team performance. Address common obstacles in team formation with innovative solutions that foster dynamic, resilient, and high-performing teams.

This updated edition enriches the original groundbreaking concepts with a decade’s worth of fresh insights, expanded case studies, and strategies for navigating the complexities of remote and hybrid work environments. Through a blend of practical advice and real-world examples, the book equips you with everything you need to implement self-selection in your organization. From the initial groundwork and planning phases to executing self-selection events, and the crucial steps that follow, you’ll learn how to create environments where people choose their teams, fostering a sense of ownership, satisfaction, and dynamism.

• Errata, typos, suggestions

Releases:

• B1.0 2024/10/22

Note: Contents and extracts of beta books will change as the book is developed.

• Preface
• Understanding the Core Concept
  • Self-Selection and the Art of Dynamic Team Design excerpt
    • What Is Self-Selection?
    • A Decade of Self-Selection
    • The Art of Team Design
    • Self-Selection vs. Managerial Selection
    • The Ideas Behind Self-Selection Are Not New
    • Why Self-Selection Works
    • What Next?
  • Self-Selection in Action: A Trade Me Story
    • Who Are We?
    • What Problem Did We Need to Solve?
    • Sparking the Idea
    • The Trial
    • Getting Away with It: Overcoming Fears and Skepticism
    • How Self-Selection Unfolded
    • Observation: How Did People Choose?
    • The Impact and Results
    • Embracing Self-Selection
    • What Next?
• Mastering the Self-Selection Method
  • Laying the Groundwork excerpt
    • Self-Selection at Scale
    • Step 1: Conduct a Readiness Check
    • Step 2: Carry Out a Trial
    • Step 3: Get Permission
    • Step 4: Define the Teams to Select
    • Step 5: Coordinate Logistics
    • Step 6: Communicate Early and Often
    • What Next?
  • Getting Ready
    • Step 1: Define the Rules and Constraints
    • Step 2: Create a Facilitation Plan
    • Step 3: Prepare Frequently Asked Questions
    • Step 4: Send Out Homework
    • Step 5: Prepare Materials and Stationery
    • What Next?
  • Running a Self-Selection Event
    • Step 1: Set Up the Room
    • Step 2: Welcome People as They Arrive
    • Step 3: Introduce the Day
    • Step 4: Product Owners Pitch
    • Step 5: Explain the Rules
    • Step 6: Get Started: One, Two, Three, Go!
    • Step 7: Conduct a Checkpoint Review
    • Step 8: Rinse and Repeat
    • Step 9: Tackle the Outstanding Problems
    • Step 10: Wrap Up
    • What Next?
  • Running a Remote or Hybrid Self-Selection Event
    • Adapting to Remote and Hybrid Settings
    • Three Critical Areas to Get Right
    • Self-Selecting in a Remote Environment
    • Self-Selecting in a Hybrid Environment
    • What Next?
  • After Self-Selection: Now What?
    • Protect the Outcome
    • Meet with New Teams ASAP
    • Move Forward at Pace
    • Schedule Team Launch Events
    • Make the Overall Change Plan Visible
    • Plan for Kicking Off New Teams
    • Each Team Needs a Launch Event
    • Support Teams After Launching
    • What Not To Do
    • What Next?
• Learning from a Decade of Self-Selection
  • Adapting Self-Selection to Your Context excerpt
    • Understanding Your Unique Landscape
    • Self-Selection in a SAFe Environment
    • Self-Selection to Boost Innovation and Employee Engagement
    • Self-Selection to Merge Departments and Reallocate Resources
    • Self-Selection with LeSS
    • Self-Selection with FAST Agile
    • What Next?
  • Insights: Lessons We Have Learned
    • How Self-Selection Affects People
    • Long-Term Benefits of Self-Selection
    • How to Screw it Up
    • What Next?
  • Keeping the Spirit Alive
    • Reality Check: Teams Will Evolve
    • Sustaining Self-Selection: A Continuous Cycle
    • Self-Selection Can Spread to More Than Just Teams
    • Close Teams with Care Before Starting New Ones
    • Create a Self-Selecting Vision for the future
    • Now It’s Your Turn
    • What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?

Sandy Mamoli is one of New Zealand’s leading agile coaches, a force of positive energy, and a former Olympic athlete. She works with leaders and teams, guiding them toward high performance with an approach that is hands-on, no-nonsense, and steeped in agile techniques. Sandy is a an international keynote speaker and a member of the global Agile Alliance board of directors. She is a high-achieving, goal-driven person who is also, perhaps unsurprisingly, really into CrossFit.

David Mole is a globally recognized author, speaker, and trainer specializing in high-performance teams. Originally from England and now based in New Zealand, he has spent his career mastering the art and science of leadership, team facilitation, and high performance. Renowned for his expert facilitation skills and coaching, David empowers emerging leaders to build cohesive, impactful teams. Beyond work, he’s a father, pug owner, and frequent half-marathon runner.