R.E.S.U.L.T. model for team development

In today’s fast-paced and dynamic business environment, fostering effective teamwork is critical for achieving sustainable success. Our R.E.S.U.L.T. model is a means of support as well as a checklist for daily team development. This model includes tools and interventions that turn teams into winning teams.

R – Recognize Achievements

The proverb “Do good and talk about it” holds valuable wisdom that often goes unnoticed. Acknowledging accomplishments boosts self-confidence, motivation, and recognition, paving the way for even more success. Yet, society tends to focus on problems, anger, and challenges—a habit rooted in early experiences, such as the red marks teachers use to correct mistakes in school. This pattern teaches us to prioritize what’s wrong over what’s right, overshadowing the importance of celebrating success.

Practical Tips:

• Begin every meeting by sharing positive news or team achievements.
• Show appreciation for colleagues’ contributions spontaneously.
• Ask questions to highlight what’s working well, reinforcing a solutions-focused mindset.

E – Encourage in Case of Setbacks

In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, change is constant. Progress, improvement, and speed are often hailed as critical for success, creating pressure that permeates every level of an organization. As a result, obstacles are frequently viewed as threats that hinder progress, leading to resistance and frustration.

An alternative perspective is to view challenges as valuable signals – like a warning to slow down when approaching a sharp turn. These obstacles can serve as opportunities to reassess your path, recalibrate your approach, and realign with your overarching goals. By embracing this mindset, teams can adapt to new conditions and discover better solutions, echoing the agile principle of “inspect and adapt.”

Practical Tips:

• Listen actively to complaints about unexpected changes, validating concerns rather than dismissing them.
• Focus on the end goal, identify new approaches, and work collaboratively on solutions.

S – Support Learning

Failure, especially from new attempts, is inevitable but often misunderstood. Many teams respond by blaming or criticizing, rooted in a culture where mistakes are seen as negative. However, failures are opportunities for learning and progress. By reframing mistakes as starting points for improvement, teams can foster innovation and confidence, encouraging members to experiment and achieve together.

Events like “fuck-up nights“, where employees share lessons from their mistakes, help shift team culture, and normalize failure as a stepping stone toward success and growth.

Practical Tips:

• Use growth-oriented language that emphasizes progress rather than fixed attributes.
• Celebrate lessons learned from mistakes, such as organizing “failure celebrations” like fuck-up nights, to normalize learning through experimentation.

U – Uphold Meaningful Rules

Meaningful rules provide a balance of structure and flexibility. A non-negotiable framework establishes clear, unchangeable principles, such as respecting company values, that guide behaviour and ensure accountability. Institutional rules, while offering a flexible foundation for collaboration, must be regularly reviewed and adjusted to avoid rigidity and stagnation.

Team-specific rules, developed collaboratively, should remain adaptable to evolving needs. For example, allowing coffee during meetings if punctuality is maintained or committing to help teammates on request. This dynamic approach fosters cooperation, creativity, and a sense of ownership within the team.

Practical Tips:

• Define a concise, non-negotiable framework (e.g., company values).
• Regularly revisit institutional and team-specific rules, adjusting them to suit evolving needs.
• Keep rules lean and focused to avoid unnecessary rigidity.

L – Let Them Solve It

When is a manager, coach, or Scrum Master truly helpful? This question has evolved in recent years. Traditionally, leaders were expected to quickly solve problems so teams could continue working smoothly. This led to the common practice of promoting experts into management roles, even if they lacked leadership skills. The result: teams lost valuable expertise and gained a manager who struggled to offer support.

Today, leadership is about empowering others and fostering growth, not being the top expert. Leaders create an environment where teams can collaborate effectively and solve problems on their own. By making key decisions and guiding the team, they build confidence and support overall team development.

Practical Tips:

• Encourage team members to leverage their expertise while taking responsibility for problem-solving.
• Be transparent about your knowledge gaps, emphasizing collaboration over individual heroics.

T – Trust Your People

Mutual trust is key to successful teamwork, but it cannot be built overnight. Trust grows through experience, developed by knowing that you can rely on others—especially during tough times. This is where focus comes in. If you believe you can’t trust anyone, you’ll always find evidence to confirm that belief, often unconsciously. However, if you focus on finding reasons to trust others, you’ll uncover enough proof to reinforce it, and your trust will grow.

Whether trust or mistrust develops within a team depends on the basic assumptions of its members. While a positive attitude can’t be forced, you can set a strong example by expecting the best from your colleagues and customers, thus demonstrating trust in them. One thing is certain: trust is contagious.

Practical Tips:

• Model trust by expecting positive contributions from colleagues and demonstrating reliability.
• Foster an environment of gratitude and recognition, encouraging team members to express appreciation publicly.

Conclusion

The R.E.S.U.L.T. model provides a structured yet flexible approach to team development, emphasizing positivity, adaptability, and mutual respect. By integrating these principles into daily practices, teams can become resilient, innovative, and self-sufficient, ensuring sustained success in any environment.