In a project, the team often has its “nose to the grindstone,” focusing on delivering expectations on time and within budget, sometimes at the expense of the team itself and its dynamics. Yet, team dynamics are an essential element for ensuring project success. Sometimes tensions arise that hinder the team’s effectiveness, but their causes can be hard to pinpoint. The team itself may struggle to articulate what is happening. I encountered this situation with one of the teams I was supporting, and here’s what we did.
The project team consisted of about ten remote members based in different countries and with diverse cultural backgrounds. Under the inherent pressure of the project, there were numerous unspoken issues and communication challenges. The team was working with an agile approach, but despite holding retrospectives, members found it difficult to share their true feelings and thoughts. This was likely due to a combination of remote work, cultural differences—where negative feedback isn’t easily shared—and a form of politeness. We needed to find another way to break down these barriers.
We decided to implement a workshop aimed at diagnosing the team’s ways of working. We organized a dedicated two-hour session called “The Trial.” The team was divided into two groups: on one side, the defense attorneys; on the other, the prosecutors. I took on the role of the Judge, responsible for facilitating and moderating the debates. The Product Owner assumed the role of the jury. During the session, each team was given time to prepare its arguments. The defense team had to identify 10 things the team was doing well, while the prosecutors had to identify 10 areas where the team needed to improve its working methods. Each team then appointed a representative to present their conclusions, starting with “The team is guilty because…” or “The team is innocent because…”. This led to open and honest discussions, with arguments and counterarguments being presented. Each team embraced their role as either defense or prosecution wholeheartedly.
The role-playing aspect truly encouraged open communication. The sources of tension were identified, and the team was able to create an action plan to address them. Simultaneously, positive points were also listed, and actions were implemented to reinforce them. From a cultural perspective, two individuals felt that the exercise was stigmatizing. However, the entire team agreed to implement the proposed changes.
“The Trial” is a workshop that can be highly effective for diagnosing team dynamics and uncovering the reasons behind a vague feeling that something is amiss. The role-playing aspect allows participants to step back and gain a clearer perspective on themselves. However, cultural sensitivity should not be overlooked. It is crucial to recognize that such workshops may be unsettling for certain cultures, making it essential to emphasize the purpose and methodology of the exercise.
Pictures Copyright: Moments by Marion
