Team process is a funny thing. It can happen organically without anyone noticing (this can be good or bad) or it can be intentionally defined (this can also be good or bad depending on who's involved in the defining).
Having worked with a lot of teams, I've seen a broad range of responses to process change. Some people enjoy trying new things even when the process is working. Others are resistant and question why process needs to change if nothing is broken.
Here's a pattern that sounds obvious:
- Change is easy for anyone unhappy with the way things are.
- Change is hard for anyone happy with the way things are.
But it's not obvious when we're on the inside looking out. We usually only identify with one of those statements, and it's hard to see when some of your teammates feel the opposite. Inertia makes us stick with the status quo, and we end up with unhappy teammates.
Here are two other patterns I've noticed:
- It's really rare for everyone to be on the same page all the time
- We often think "everyone on the team feels like I do"
If you're happy and productive, what's your incentive to change? Why would you want to take the time to talk about process when you could be getting actual work done?
When one person suffers, the team suffers. When the team suffers, the business suffers. And that means improving the process is actual work.
There are a lot of factors to consider here, and this is without even taking into account individuals' resistance to change. Some thrive on ambiguity and experimentation, others need a lot of structure to be productive. A good process will accomodate both styles.
Don't be afraid of experimenting. If the process isn't working for you after the change, experiment again! Even if you go back to the old ways, trying different things will help you narrow down exactly what's working and what's not. If you're changing process too much, pause and let things settle.
Without iteration, team members can be really unhappy without anyone noticing, bringing the team down in all kinds of ways. Even if you're happy with the way things are, keep an open mind - you might discover a part of the process that could be better for you.
Don't expect it to be perfect though. The fact that it's rare for everyone to be on the same page means it's equally rare for the process to be perfect. But even if you can't strive for perfection, you can strive for harmony.
