1/ Does your co-worker "slack"?
It's called the "Ringelmann Effect."
Why does it happen and how to fix it.
🧵 👇
It's called the "Ringelmann Effect."
Why does it happen and how to fix it.
🧵 👇
2/ First, some background...
Year was 1913,
French professor, Max Ringelmann conducted 2 experiments.
Experiment#1 - People were asked to grab a rope and tug on it individually.
Experiment#2 - Tug on the rope as a group.
Results were astonishing.
Year was 1913,
French professor, Max Ringelmann conducted 2 experiments.
Experiment#1 - People were asked to grab a rope and tug on it individually.
Experiment#2 - Tug on the rope as a group.
Results were astonishing.
3/ Results:
Experiment#1 - Avg. Energy Used per person ~100%
Experiment#2 - Avg. Energy Used per person < 85%
When individuals pulled the rope together, they used less energy than when they pulled alone.
Experiment#1 - Avg. Energy Used per person ~100%
Experiment#2 - Avg. Energy Used per person < 85%
When individuals pulled the rope together, they used less energy than when they pulled alone.
4/ This phenomenon was later called"
The Ringelmann Effect,
One of the most documented phenomena ever in social psychology.
The Ringelmann Effect,
One of the most documented phenomena ever in social psychology.
5/ Ringelmann Effect has been tested on all kinds of teams.
- Corporate Teams
- Sports Teams
- Academic Teams
you name it.
It refers to the fact that as the size of a team grows,
individual output declines.
- Corporate Teams
- Sports Teams
- Academic Teams
you name it.
It refers to the fact that as the size of a team grows,
individual output declines.
6/ Fascinating?
You'll be more surprised to know that was also found at workplaces like,
Google and Facebook.
And,
there’s a good possibility it’s occurring at your workplace as well.
Difficult to believe?
Consider this...
👇
You'll be more surprised to know that was also found at workplaces like,
Google and Facebook.
And,
there’s a good possibility it’s occurring at your workplace as well.
Difficult to believe?
Consider this...
👇
7/ Have you ever:
-been part of a team where one or more members don't pull their weight?
-been in a meeting with a large group where you felt sharing your opinion won’t matter?
-wondered why in Zoom calls with 10 or more people, only few participate while rest daydream?
-been part of a team where one or more members don't pull their weight?
-been in a meeting with a large group where you felt sharing your opinion won’t matter?
-wondered why in Zoom calls with 10 or more people, only few participate while rest daydream?
8/ If you have, then you have experienced the Ringelmann Effect.
It's a productivity killer.
When it comes to number of team members, one thing appears true.
Less is more.
It's a productivity killer.
When it comes to number of team members, one thing appears true.
Less is more.
9/ There is no magic number of team members but,
Ringelmann‘s experiment and other studies on the effect suggest that a team of 7(+or-)2 is most productive.
A team with
< 5 members may be too small to be effective and so is a team,
with members > 9.
Ringelmann‘s experiment and other studies on the effect suggest that a team of 7(+or-)2 is most productive.
A team with
< 5 members may be too small to be effective and so is a team,
with members > 9.
10/ This is all well and good.
But why does this happen?
Why does individual productivity drop in Large Teams?
Ringelmann offered 2 explanations:
But why does this happen?
Why does individual productivity drop in Large Teams?
Ringelmann offered 2 explanations:
11/ First,
Lack of Coordination
This happens when members of large teams don't know,
-each other.
-each other's roles and responsibilities.
-how each other's tasks fit in the grand scheme of things.
Lack of Coordination
This happens when members of large teams don't know,
-each other.
-each other's roles and responsibilities.
-how each other's tasks fit in the grand scheme of things.
12/ Example: Training sessions.
Assign an activity to a large group of participants.
20% of them will do 80% of the work,
Rest will pass time until the time of activity is over.
Assign an activity to a large group of participants.
20% of them will do 80% of the work,
Rest will pass time until the time of activity is over.
13/ Second,
Lack of Motivation.
This happens when a member of a large team thinks,
“Is there anything left for me to say?”,
“others already said it all”, or
“will my opinion matter?”
People lose motivation to add value.
Lack of Motivation.
This happens when a member of a large team thinks,
“Is there anything left for me to say?”,
“others already said it all”, or
“will my opinion matter?”
People lose motivation to add value.
14/ Example: Brainstorming Sessions.
2017 Gallup Study, showed that large US companies have the lowest employee engagement.
While their small counterparts showed the highest levels of engagement.
“A good quick small team can beat a big slow team any time.” Bear Bryant
2017 Gallup Study, showed that large US companies have the lowest employee engagement.
While their small counterparts showed the highest levels of engagement.
“A good quick small team can beat a big slow team any time.” Bear Bryant
15/ Ringelmann Effect is all around us.
This is why people,
-don’t fill in feedback surveys.
-don't speak up against an incident of injustice.
-don't vote in Elections.
They think, "One person won’t make any difference."
This is why people,
-don’t fill in feedback surveys.
-don't speak up against an incident of injustice.
-don't vote in Elections.
They think, "One person won’t make any difference."
16/ Ringelmann Effect can be curbed.
SCRUM which is an "Agile Project Management", framework suggests small teams.
Team sizes are usually 7(+or-)2.
Small Design & Engineering teams benefit in 3 areas.
1- Smooth Alignment
2- Strong Communication
3- Rapid Connection
SCRUM which is an "Agile Project Management", framework suggests small teams.
Team sizes are usually 7(+or-)2.
Small Design & Engineering teams benefit in 3 areas.
1- Smooth Alignment
2- Strong Communication
3- Rapid Connection
17/ "If a team cannot be fed by two large Pizzas, the team is too big”. - Jeff Bezos
Small teams move faster than big teams and achieve big dreams.
Here are few other ways to combat Ringelmann Effect:
Small teams move faster than big teams and achieve big dreams.
Here are few other ways to combat Ringelmann Effect:
18/ Chunking:
Dividing complex task into manageable bits.
Every member of the team is responsible for one or more bits.
Commitment increases with clear accountabilities.
Dividing complex task into manageable bits.
Every member of the team is responsible for one or more bits.
Commitment increases with clear accountabilities.
19/ Urgency:
Creating manageable deadlines generates urgency.
Urgency overpowers new member hesitation and conflicts.
It gives them something to care about,
something that is more than themselves.
Creating manageable deadlines generates urgency.
Urgency overpowers new member hesitation and conflicts.
It gives them something to care about,
something that is more than themselves.
20/ Transparency:
"Lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity" - Dalai Lama
Trust happens when leaders are transparent.
To provide transparency simplify your feedback mechanism.
Empower your people to speak up.
"Lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity" - Dalai Lama
Trust happens when leaders are transparent.
To provide transparency simplify your feedback mechanism.
Empower your people to speak up.
21/ Awareness:
-Some people hide in the crowd.
-They feel they won’t be discovered or held accountable.
-Others think their opinions won’t matter.
Quiting thinking that the small size of your team is a limitation,
could be a BIG advantage.
-Some people hide in the crowd.
-They feel they won’t be discovered or held accountable.
-Others think their opinions won’t matter.
Quiting thinking that the small size of your team is a limitation,
could be a BIG advantage.
22/ That was Ringelmann Effect and how to cure it.
If you enjoyed reading it then consider Following me @VibhorChandel for more threads on:
-Leadership Tricks & Mysteries
-Communication Hacks
-Building High Performing Teams.
Sub. to My YouTube Channel youtube.com/vibhorchandel
If you enjoyed reading it then consider Following me @VibhorChandel for more threads on:
-Leadership Tricks & Mysteries
-Communication Hacks
-Building High Performing Teams.
Sub. to My YouTube Channel youtube.com/vibhorchandel
23/ Here's one thread I published in the past:
21 TED Talks that teach you Leadership better than any University.
21 TED Talks that teach you Leadership better than any University.
https://twitter.com/VibhorChandel/status/1496138173726044171?s=20&t=14WDa5z1aoO4hmhiOeTsGA
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