Even the best leaders often overestimate how many projects their teams can tackle.
Frequently, this happens because work output doesn’t scale at the same rate as team size. Adding new team members always comes with its own coordination, education, and communication costs.
When a 4-person company becomes 10, it works harder to coordinate between team members. When a 10-person company becomes 50, it works harder still, coordinating not just between individuals but teams themselves.
Just as important, starting something new, evaluating what to start, and keeping things moving forward is a fixed cost that often far outweighs the variable output new team members provide.
I’ve lost count of the number of teams that I’ve seen floundering around because they ignore these challenges.
Teams with too many priorities have no priorities at all. Don’t underestimate the value of focus.