Heidi Helfand

Guest: Heidi Helfand - Author of "Dynamic Reteaming". With over two decades in the tech industry, Heidi is an expert in team dynamics and organizational change, focusing on how to set teams up for success through effective reorganization. Key Takeaways: Five Patterns of Reteaming: Understand the five ways teams change: One by one (joining/leaving the company), Grow and Split (teams grow and then split), Merging (teams combine), Isolation (creating a team off to the side for innovation), and Switching (moving individuals between teams for development and fulfillment). Isolation for Innovation: Creating isolated teams with process freedom can catalyze new product lines and solve critical issues without the drag of existing processes. Transparent Reorgs: Involving team members in reorg discussions through methods like whiteboard reteaming can increase transparency and buy-in, though it should be time-boxed to avoid prolonged distraction. Anti-patterns to Avoid: Avoid spreading high performers thin across teams, and ensure changes are communicated to prevent the "poof, they're gone" surprise. Listening Skills: Effective listening involves focusing attention outward, reading body language, and understanding the environmental context. Topics Covered: Reteaming patterns, team isolation for innovation, transparent reorg strategies, anti-patterns in team changes, effective listening skills.