Building Strengths-Based Agile Teams
Agile teams thrive when there’s a clear understanding, balance, and alignment between everyone’s strengths and roles. This reduces friction, minimises competition, and avoids those dreaded “alpha vs alpha” situations.
When people are strategically placed into teams based on their abilities and capabilities, the magic happens. A strengths-based project team environment improves engagement, productivity, retention, and overall work culture.
What is an Agile Team?
An agile team is a multidisciplinary group working intensively together to deliver a project, task, or deadline through structured planning and strategies. These teams bring together people with diverse experiences, skills, and qualities to deliver results efficiently.
6 Common Characteristics of a High-Performing Agile Team
- Highly collaborative: Team members openly and cooperatively work together, producing better results through mutual support.
- Good communicators: They listen well, respect different viewpoints, and are open to input from others.
- Self-motivated: They take initiative and step up without needing to be prompted.
- Problem-solvers: They identify issues, seek input, explore options, and find the most viable solutions.
- Results-driven: They understand the company’s vision and strive for high-quality outcomes.
- Continuously seek improvement: They commit to excellence and are always looking for ways to improve.
How to Build a Strengths-Based Agile Team
To build a strong, agile team, assign project roles based on individual strengths. The result? Projects delivered on time, within budget, meeting objectives—while team members feel fulfilled and engaged because they’re playing to their natural strengths.
Recommended Team Roles (Buelt & Plowman)
- Functional Managers (Advocates): Identify and develop team members’ strengths during and after the project, ensuring ongoing engagement and growth.
- Project Managers (Conductors): Lead and model strengths-based behaviour, creating a culture where everyone can leverage their strengths for maximum impact.
- Project Team Members (Doers): Apply their strengths intentionally to complete tasks effectively and contribute meaningfully to project success.
3 Steps to Develop Your Team’s Natural Talents
- Discover natural strengths: Use a validated strengths assessment like Gallup’s to understand all of your people—not just the top 15%—so you can allocate opportunities effectively.
- Align individuals with the right projects: Assign tasks that play to each person’s strengths to maximise performance and satisfaction.
- Ensure everyone understands the team’s strengths: Share the combined strengths profile, honour diversity of thought, and encourage peer learning to leverage collective capability.
In Summary
Leaders who embrace a strengths-based approach and agile principles can deliver projects faster, with higher quality, while fostering trust, loyalty, and job satisfaction. By understanding the talent you already have and eliminating bias, you can uncover surprising team possibilities and strengthen workplace culture.
At Humanico, we help organisations identify the right people for the right roles, build high-performing agile teams, and improve retention by creating a workplace where strengths are recognised and celebrated.
Get in touch to start building your strengths-based agile teams.
