Scaling Teams: Lessons Learned from Growing a Team from 5 to 50

Half Day Tutorial

It is the constant effort for any management to scale a team to cater the customer’s growing needs, and to generate more revenue for the organization. How to scale a team is an art, and with the conscious efforts put in, comes a whole bunch of challenges. Challenges are sometimes of such magnitude that may derail the scaling process if there is no well-thought plan in place.

In my workshop, I will take the audience through a journey. A journey that began by onboarding a new customer with a small team to begin with. Slowly the project scope expanded and the demand for new resources with varied expectations grew. Challenges quickly engulfed all the departments of the project including Hiring teams, management teams, technical leadership and the teams as a whole. What were those challenges, how were they tackled and did scaling happen, is the core around which my workshop is planned.

We will first look at various challenges, which broadly are:

1. Communication breakdowns
2. Difficulty in maintaining a consistent development process
3. Difficulty in managing the increased workload
4. Difficulty in finding and retaining top talent
5. Difficulty in maintaining a positive team culture
6. Difficulty in keeping track of progress and performance
7. Difficulty in providing feedback and mentoring

As solutions, we will discuss the following points:

1. The strategies and tactics to be used to overcome these challenges
2. Importance of establishing a clear and effective communication system within the team
3. The importance of setting clear goals and expectations for team members
4. The role of leadership and management in scaling a team
5. How to maintain a positive and productive team culture as the team grows

Each of the above points shall involve case studies and exercises for the audiences. The exercises are 10-15 min long that are followed by team discussions and conclusions.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Leadership

Session Speech

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, technical skills alone are not enough to thrive in both personal and professional spheres. Emotional Intelligence (EI) has emerged as a critical factor that influences how individuals navigate relationships, manage stress, and achieve success. In my presentation, I will explore the concept of emotional intelligence, delving into its components, significance, and practical applications.

The presentation will discuss how emotional intelligence encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. It highlights the impact of EI on various aspects of life, including communication, conflict resolution, leadership, and decision-making. 

Furthermore, the talk will underline the role of emotional intelligence in the workplace. It discusses how EI can enhance teamwork, improve organizational culture, and lead to effective leadership. The abstract also emphasizes that emotional intelligence can be developed and improved through self-awareness, practice, and continuous learning.

In a world where human interaction and collaboration are central, emotional intelligence emerges as the bridge that connects technical proficiency with holistic success. This topic aims to shed light on how cultivating emotional intelligence can empower individuals to thrive in their personal lives and excel in their careers.