--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My rule of thumb is that no work team…" description: "\"“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 th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/robert-i-sutton-26980_work-team_my-rule-of-thumb-is-that-no-work-team-sh_1261772.jpg" --- # 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/robert-i-sutton-26980_work-team_my-rule-of-thumb-is-that-no-work-team-sh_1261772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/robert-i-sutton-26980_work-team_my-rule-of-thumb-is-that-no-work-team-sh_1261772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/robert-i-sutton-26980_work-team_my-rule-of-thumb-is-that-no-work-team-sh_1261772.jpg) > ““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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exponentially Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exponentially-team-4013961/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Size Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/size-research-4013960/) [Team Membership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-membership-4013959/) [Team Size](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-size-4013958/) [Work Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-team/) ## Related quotes > [“when you get a team size over five or six, the performance of your team will start declining quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-get-a-team-size-over-five-or-six-the-performance-of-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even a family needs to work as a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marques-houston/even-a-family-needs-to-work-as-a-team/) [Marques Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marques-houston/) > [We believe that two people who have worked together for more than 10 years and been in the company for more than 15 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azim-premji/we-believe-that-two-people-who-have-worked-together-for-more-than-10/) [Azim Premji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azim-premji/) > [Great companies are built in the office, with hard work put in by a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-chang/great-companies-are-built-in-the-office-with-hard-work-put-in-by-a/) [Emily Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-chang/) > [“All the evidence from the science of complexity says that given certain clear parameters...communities or teams will become self-organizing. They will be attracted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/all-the-evidence-from-the-science-of-complexity-says-that-given/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [I always thought front office work, being with the team day in and day out, that was something I wasn't going to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-always-thought-front-office-work-being-with-the-team-day-in-and-day/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [The Fox News that I know and work in is a team of producers, technicians, photographers, truck operators and production managers who barely have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-maccallum/the-fox-news-that-i-know-and-work-in-is-a-team-of-producers/) [Martha MacCallum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-maccallum/) > [But I noted with real satisfaction how well ex-footballers seemed to have leadership qualifications . . . I believe that football, perhaps more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/but-i-noted-with-real-satisfaction-how-well-ex-footballers-seemed-to/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I very much believe in the collective work and the team dynamic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christophe-lemaire/i-very-much-believe-in-the-collective-work-and-the-team-dynamic/) [Christophe Lemaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christophe-lemaire/) > [Individual accolades are gonna take care of themselves when we put the work in as a team.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/individual-accolades-are-gonna-take-care-of-themselves-when-we-put/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [We work as a team, and that is a huge part of why we have been successful; we run fast as a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneel-bhusri/we-work-as-a-team-and-that-is-a-huge-part-of-why-we-have-been/) [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) > [Id love to work with the team in IndyCar; I just wont be behind the wheel anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/id-love-to-work-with-the-team-in-indycar-i-just-wont-be-behind-the/) [Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/) > [If you want to be successful, you need to work as a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/if-you-want-to-be-successful-you-need-to-work-as-a-team/) [Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/) > [A family needs to work as a team, supporting each other's individual aims and aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/a-family-needs-to-work-as-a-team-supporting-each-other-s-individual/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [The impresario function is about intervening with the company's more administrative management structure. It is about trying to establish a sense of boundaries and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kao/the-impresario-function-is-about-intervening-with-the-company-s-more/) [John Kao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kao/) ## More by Robert I. Sutton > [“organizations that spread and sustain excellence are infused with a “relentless restlessness”—that often uncomfortable urge for constant innovation, driven by the nagging feeling that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/organizations-that-spread-and-sustain-excellence-are-infused-with-a/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“two tests that I use for spotting whether a person is acting like an asshole: • Test One: After talking to the alleged asshole,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/two-tests-that-i-use-for-spotting-whether-a-person-is-acting-like-an/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“Fight as if you are right, listen as if you are wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/fight-as-if-you-are-right-listen-as-if-you-are-wrong/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“Life is too short to put up with assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/life-is-too-short-to-put-up-with-assholes/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [The best single question for testing an organization's character is: What happens when people make mistakes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/the-best-single-question-for-testing-an-organization-s-character-is/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“a host of cost-cutting moves, and one of the changes was that although employees”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/a-host-of-cost-cutting-moves-and-one-of-the-changes-was-that-although/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“on outside the meeting and agree on a steward to be responsible for it. With frequent, crisp stand-up meetings, there can never be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/on-outside-the-meeting-and-agree-on-a-steward-to-be-responsible-for/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [Assholes tend to stick together, and once stuck are not easily separated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/assholes-tend-to-stick-together-and-once-stuck-are-not-easily/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“What you “learn” from Steve Jobs tells more about yourself than about him!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/what-you-learn-from-steve-jobs-tells-more-about-yourself-than-about/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“better to shoot the messenger than to learn about—and fix—the problems. In contrast to such constructive defiance, I know bosses who employ the opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/better-to-shoot-the-messenger-than-to-learn-about-and-fix-the/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [Creativity isn't about wild talent as much as it's about productivity. To find new ideas that work, you need to try a lot that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/creativity-isn-t-about-wild-talent-as-much-as-it-s-about-productivity/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“As Max DePree, former CEO of furniture maker Herman Miller, put it, “The first job of a leader is to define reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/as-max-depree-former-ceo-of-furniture-maker-herman-miller-put-it-the/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [Renowned management guru Peter F.Drucker looked back at his 65-year consulting career shortly before he died. He concluded that great leaders could either be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/renowned-management-guru-peter-f-drucker-looked-back-at-his-65-year/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“and supply-chain experts, and get more space. Corey also knew that little things can mean a lot, and as a boss, you can earn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/and-supply-chain-experts-and-get-more-space-corey-also-knew-that/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) > [“Here’s what I think we face. 2. Here’s what I think we should do. 3. Here’s why. 4. Here’s what I think we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-i-sutton/here-s-what-i-think-we-face-2-here-s-what-i-think-we-should-do-3-here/) [Robert I. Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) [Explore all 21 Robert I. Sutton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-i-sutton/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert I. 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