Small Teams Win. Here’s Why.
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This week, I was reminded of a high-stakes initiative I led years ago. The company’s success was riding on it. Failure, I was told, “wasn’t an option.”
But here’s the kicker: The leader in charge didn’t treat it any differently than other projects. Instead of dedicating a focused team, he pulled cross-functional resources—people already stretched thin across multiple priorities. The result? Slow progress, mounting frustration, and near disaster.
I see this mistake all the time. Leaders assume they need more people to tackle big challenges. But research proves the opposite: Larger teams underperform, especially when members are juggling multiple priorities.
Here are five things you need to know about small teams:
I.
Big teams = big complexity.
Every person added to a project increases communication overhead exponentially. A 10-person team has 45 potential lines of communication. A 5-person team? Only 10. Less friction = faster results.
II.
Multitasking is a myth.
Science proves that switching between tasks drains focus and kills momentum. A small, dedicated team working on one mission will run circles around a larger, distracted one.
III.
Part-time resourcing = full-time failure.
It looks good on paper, but in execution, it’s a disaster. When team members split their attention, projects stall. And when one project goes off the rails, it drags everything else down with it. Risks spill over, priorities shift, and suddenly, your “flexible” resources are stuck firefighting instead of making progress. Dedicated resources move the needle.
IV.
Bigger teams weaken accountability.
When too many people are involved, ownership becomes unclear. A small, tight-knit team makes accountability crystal clear—everyone knows their role.
V.
The best teams are small, focused, and empowered.
A study of 400+ projects found that teams of 21 people were twice as likely to fail as those with 10 or fewer. The most effective teams? 3-5 people. Small teams don’t just work faster—they work smarter.
Try This:
If you want to speed up execution, resist the urge to staff big. Instead, dedicate a small team (even if it’s just 2-3 people) and give them full focus. You’ll be amazed at what they accomplish.
Where have you seen small teams outperform? Reply and let me know.
Your coach,
Chris
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