Ever feel like a project grinds to a halt because there are just too many people involved? Turns out, there’s a reason for that. The more people you add to a team, the more communication lines you create, and the harder it is to keep everyone aligned.
A recent post by Roberto Ferraro illustrated this beautifully, showing how the number of communication lines increases exponentially as a team grows:
- 2 members = 1 line
- 3 members = 3 lines
- 4 members = 6 lines
- 5 members = 10 lines
- 6 members = 15 lines
- 7 members = 21 lines
- 8 members = 28 lines
- 9 members = 36 lines
- 10 members = 45 lines
That’s right. A 10-person team has 45 potential communication paths to manage. No wonder things slow down.
Why Small Teams Work Better
The fewer people involved, the fewer conversations needed to keep everyone on the same page. This translates to:
- Faster decision-making
- Less miscommunication
- More accountability
- Fewer meetings (yes, please)
Agile and Small Teams
Scrum teams are often limited to 7±2 members for exactly this reason. Too small and you lack enough diversity of skills. Too big and communication overhead kills agility. Keeping teams small ensures quick collaboration without endless check-ins.
Scaling Without Losing the Advantage
So what if you do need more people? The trick is to create small, autonomous teams that communicate through clear alignment rather than constant status updates. Strategies include:
- Squads & Tribes (Spotify Model) Keep small, cross-functional teams focused on specific areas.
- Scrum of Scrums Representatives from each team meet to align without dragging everyone into meetings.
- Clear Documentation & Asynchronous Updates Reduce the need for live discussions.
Final Thoughts
Small teams aren’t just a preference. They’re a necessity when speed and clarity matter. If your team is struggling with communication overhead, the fix might not be another meeting. It might be a smaller team.
Shoutout to Roberto Ferraro for the inspiration. How has team size affected your work? Let’s discuss.
