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My rule of thumb is that no work team should have…

“My rule of thumb is that no work team should have membership in the double digits (and my preferred size is six), since our research has shown that the number of performance problems a team encounters increases exponentially as team size increases.” quote by Robert I. Sutton
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““My rule of thumb is that no work team should have membership in the double digits (and my preferred size is six), since our research has shown that the number of performance problems a team encounters increases exponentially as team size increases.””

Robert I. Sutton

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Small, tight teams reduce conflict and improve performance; larger groups create exponential problems.

In simple terms: Smaller teams work better.

Key Takeaway

Keep teams under six members.

Themes

team dynamics productivity leadership

Mood

analytical pragmatic

Type

advisory professional

When to use this quote

  • startup teams
  • software development
  • research labs

Key Concepts

exponential complexity social psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you maintain cohesion in larger groups?
  • What tools help manage team size?
A Different Perspective

Very large teams can still succeed with strong structures.

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