Management Tip of the Day: Keep Your Team Small

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile NOVEMBER 19, 2012 Keep Your Team Small There is well-known research that shows people's efforts quickly diminish as team size increases. This is because team members reduce their input when they feel less responsible for the output. Use the smallest team possible to achieve your goals. This may mean including slightly fewer members than the task at hand requires. If reducing the size of your current team is not an option, consider dividing up a complex task into manageable bits, where every member of the team is accountable for one part of it. Or you can create a sense of urgency about the task so everyone's invested. If you see people not doing their part despite your efforts, be transparent about everyone's performance so slackers can't hide. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Why Less Is More in Teams" by Mark de Rond. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Accelerating Change A PowerPoint Presentation Based on the Work of John P. Kotter Tapped to lead a change initiative — and afraid it will fail like so many others? You have reason to worry: 70% of change efforts do fail. Here's how to beat those odds — with Accelerating Change, a premium, customizable PowerPoint presentation with detailed leader's notes. You'll help your team embrace John Kotter's proven change process. And save yourself weeks of slide deck creation time. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS A Better Way to Brainstorm in Groups Maintain Control When Conducting a Job Interview Make Your To-Do List Work If You Both Work, Stay Happy Help Your Multitasking Colleague Break the Habit Manage a Challenging (and Valuable) Employee When Working Hard, Make Time for Rest Prepare to Answer Customers' Toughest Questions Make the Most of a Bad Job Get to Know Your Unknown Audience All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)