The Work May Be the Problem, Not the Team
Team effectiveness is not only about effort. Sometimes people are working hard, but the work is not matched to their strengths, capacity, or the value they are best positioned to create.
A team can be busy and still not be operating at its best. The question is not only how much work is getting done. The question is whether the right work is sitting with the right people.
What looks like a performance or productivity issue may actually be a work design issue. Before asking people to do more, leaders may need to look at how work is distributed, where energy is being used, and whether people are spending too much time on tasks that drain their contribution.
Practical Insights
You may be seeing this if:
Rework keeps showing up.
Workload is unevenly distributed.
Recurring tasks create frustration.
Talented people spend too much time on work that does not use their strongest abilities.
Business Impact
When this is not addressed, organizations may experience:
Burnout
Inconsistent quality
Rework
Frustration even when people are giving strong effort
This Month’s Leadership Tool
Alphabet Work
This tool helps teams look at how work is assigned and whether tasks are matched to people’s strengths. Use it when the team feels busy, stretched, frustrated, or stuck in recurring work that does not seem to create enough value.
How to guide the conversation:
Ask each person to list 10 to 15 tasks they do regularly.
Label each task as A Work, B Work, C Work, D Work, or F Work.
A Work is work I do well and that energizes me.
B Work is work I do well, but it does not energize me.
C Work is work I can do, but it is not the best use of my time.
D Work drains me or slows me down.
F Work should be eliminated, automated, delegated, or redesigned.
Look for patterns across the team.
Discuss whether any work should shift, change, or be removed.
Choose one adjustment to test.
Key Reflection Question:
Is the right work sitting with the right people?
If your team is busy but not gaining traction, I can help you look at how work is designed, distributed, and aligned to people’s strengths.
