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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question_answer ANECDOTE
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.
insights INSIGHT
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.
question_answer ANECDOTE
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.
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Remember when letting people choose their own teams seemed completely radical? (I sure do!) A decade ago, Sandy Mamoli and David Mole pioneered "self-selection" at Trade Me in New Zealand, sparking a movement that would challenge conventional wisdom about team formation. In this reunion episode, we dive deep into their journey from initial experiment to proven practice. Drawing on a decade of experience across industries, cultures, and continents, Sandy and David share how self-selection has evolved to meet modern workplace challenges. What you'll learn: Why trust, ownership, and vision are the three rivers that power successful self-selection How the practice adapted from in-person to remote/hybrid environments What traditional banks and cutting-edge startups have in common when it comes to team formation Where self-selection is headed in an era of AI and fluid team structures Practical steps to start your own self-selection journey Whether you're a seasoned agilist or new to the concept, this episode offers fresh insights into how organizations thrive when people choose their teams. (And yes, we'll answer that burning question: "But what if people make the wrong choice?") Learn More About , a restless group of passionate people with complementary skills and a shared belief in continuous improvement. Related stuff: 2017 Podcast: Dynamic Reteaming Book: Team Topologies About the Agile Uprising If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a review, a rating, or leave comments on iTunes, Stitcher or your podcasting platform of choice. It really helps others find us. Much thanks to the artist from who provided us our outro music free-of-charge! If you like what you heard, to find more music you might enjoy! If you’d like to join the discussion and share your stories, please jump into the fray at our We at the Agile Uprising are committed to being totally free. However, if you’d like to contribute and help us defray hosting and production costs we do have a . Who knows, you might even get some surprises in the mail!
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