Description

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.

Contents and Extracts

• 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 Using the unFIX Model
    • Self-Selection to Boost Innovation and Employee Engagement
    • Self-Selection to Merge 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?
    • Help Spread the Word