Remember when letting people choose their own teams seemed completely radical? (I sure do!) A decade ago, Sandy Mamoli and David Mole pioneered “self-selection” at Trade Me in New Zealand, sparking a movement that would challenge conventional wisdom about team formation.
In this reunion episode, we dive deep into their journey from initial experiment to proven practice. Drawing on a decade of experience across industries, cultures, and continents, Sandy and David share how self-selection has evolved to meet modern workplace challenges.
What you’ll learn:
- Why trust, ownership, and vision are the three rivers that power successful self-selection
- How the practice adapted from in-person to remote/hybrid environments
- What traditional banks and cutting-edge startups have in common when it comes to team formation
- Where self-selection is headed in an era of AI and fluid team structures
- Practical steps to start your own self-selection journey
Whether you’re a seasoned agilist or new to the concept, this episode offers fresh insights into how organizations thrive when people choose their teams. (And yes, we’ll answer that burning question: “But what if people make the wrong choice?”)
Learn More
- Articles, videos, quick start guides, case studies, and more on Self Selection
- About Nomad8, a restless group of passionate people with complementary skills and a shared belief in continuous improvement.
Related stuff:
- 2017 Podcast: Creating Great Teams via Self Selection
- Dynamic Reteaming
- Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate and Compete in the Knowledge Economy by Amy Edmonson
- Team Topologies
About the Agile Uprising
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