Waves and Sparkling Fireworks

When it’s at its best, a process is like waves and sparkling fireworks. Not the superficial waves on the surface that come and go, but undercurrent waves: smooth and powerful with a clear direction. Suddenly, it breaks through the surface and explodes in a sparkling firework.

The wave is when a team is working together. At any given point in time everyone is busy on a task that they are the most appropriate person for, everyone gets to use their full skillset and everyone intrinsically knows what should be done next and why. All parts of the project move forward harmoniously in parallel. This creates a wavelike, forceful movement towards the goal.

The wave breaks through the surface and creates sparkling fireworks when we gain an important insight, close an exciting deal or release a project. Then, when the water falls and hits the surface again, a new undercurrent wave is formed, moving forcefully towards the next goal.

This article is part of a series of more or less unfinished thoughts on digital transformation and team management, a collection of insights from my fifteen years as a team leader at the digital agency SthlmConnection. Originally posted on Medium.