You're managing a team that's struggling to stay productive. What are your options?

2 Communicate and collaborate

The next step is to communicate and collaborate with your team and other parties to address the issues and find solutions. You should share the results of your assessment and solicit input and suggestions from your team. You should also communicate clearly and frequently with your customers and stakeholders to manage their expectations, clarify the requirements, and prioritize the features. You should foster a culture of collaboration and trust within your team and across teams by encouraging feedback, knowledge sharing, and peer review.

3 Implement changes

The final step is to implement the changes that will improve your team's productivity. You can do this by applying agile principles and practices, such as iterative development, user stories, daily standups, sprints, and demos. You can also use tools and techniques, such as automation, code quality, testing, and refactoring, to reduce technical debt and errors. You should also provide your team with the resources, training, and support they need to perform their tasks effectively and efficiently.

4 Monitor and evaluate

Once you have implemented the changes, you should monitor and evaluate their impact on your team's productivity. You can use metrics and indicators, such as velocity, quality, customer satisfaction, and team morale, to measure the progress and outcomes of your actions. You should also collect feedback from your team, customers, stakeholders, and other managers to assess the benefits and challenges of the changes. You should celebrate the successes and learn from the failures to continuously improve your team's performance.

5 Adapt and adjust

Productivity is not a static state, but a dynamic process that requires constant adaptation and adjustment. You should be aware of the changing needs and expectations of your customers, stakeholders, and team members, and respond accordingly. You should also be open to new ideas and innovations that can enhance your team's productivity. You should embrace change as an opportunity to grow and learn, rather than a threat to avoid or resist.

6 Empower and motivate

The last option is to empower and motivate your team to stay productive. You can do this by delegating tasks and responsibilities, giving autonomy and ownership, and providing feedback and recognition. You should also promote a positive and supportive work environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and learning. You should also help your team balance their work and personal life, and address any signs of stress or burnout. You should inspire your team to pursue their goals and vision, and share your passion and enthusiasm for the product.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?