The Software Engineer's Guidebook

CHAPTER 20

TEAM DYNAMICS

As a tech lead, you have broad scope to shape the team’s dynamics, such as improving health and morale, and solving conflicts. But how do you use this influence to create a healthy, well-functioning team?

In this chapter, we cover:

1. Healthy teams
2. Unhealthy teams
3. Teams with growing pains
4. Improving team dynamics
5. Relationships with other teams

1. HEALTHY TEAMS

What makes a team healthy? Here are characteristics I’ve consistently observed in teams which perform well.

Clarity

In a healthy team, it’s clear why the team exists, what its goals are, and how to achieve them. Clarity starts with the leadership; the tech lead, engineering manager, and product manager. They provide clarity by consistently ...