Agile Uprising Podcast Creating Great Teams: A Decade of Learning
Mar 16, 2025
Sandy Mamoli and David Mole, professional matchmakers and co-authors of 'Creating Great Teams,' delve into the revolutionary practice of self-selection in team dynamics. They share insights from a decade of experience, discussing how trust, ownership, and vision drive successful team formations. The duo explores the evolution of self-selection from in-person settings to remote environments and its implications for adapting to AI and fluid structures. Practical steps for implementing self-selection and addressing concerns about team choices also shine through their engaging conversation.
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Origin of Self-Selection at Trade Me
- Sandy Mamoli and David Mole started self-selection out of frustration with traditional team assignments at Trade Me.
- A spontaneous event called Shepard Day let people freely choose teams, sparking enthusiasm and ideas.
Core Principles Endure
- The core principles of self-selection—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—have stayed the same over ten years.
- Context matters for how self-selection is done, but the core philosophy remains robust and timeless.
Learning from Early Failures
- Having managers in view during self-selection can unintentionally pressure choices, as seen with managers behind glass walls.
- Poor visualization of teams during early trials caused confusion, teaching the need for better clarity in the process.
