I’m Max, Founder and CEO of Ideaware. I’ve spent the last decade building and scaling software teams, both my own and with fast-growing tech companies. And if you’re leading a dev team that’s missing deadlines, shipping bugs, or just… feeling off, I know how frustrating that is.
I’ve been there, watching a smart team struggle while pressure builds from all sides. It’s easy to start second-guessing everything. But the fix usually isn’t to tighten the screws. It’s to zoom out and get perspective.
Here are five (plus one bonus) things that have actually worked for me to turn things around, grounded in real experience, not theory.
1. Zoom Out Before You Zoom In
Before looking at individuals, take a step back:
- Are we solving the right problem?
- Does the team understand the bigger picture?
- Is the scope even doable?
I once worked with a team that missed three sprints in a row. Developers were frustrated, leadership was confused. The root cause? The product owner had shifted priorities twice without fully communicating it. Once we aligned on the “why,” things started flowing again. Start with clarity. Misalignment kills performance.
2. Look at the System, Not Just the Symptoms
It’s easy to blame a dev for being “slow.” But often, the issue lies in the system:
- Unclear goals
- Tasks that are too big or vague
- Too much work in progress at once
When we started tracking delivery metrics and reviewing how we scoped work, we found most delays came from poor breakdowns, not poor performers.
Create structure. Then assess performance.
3. One-on-Ones Over Standups — Every Time
You won’t uncover the real blockers in a daily standup.
I make one-on-ones a priority — consistent, low-pressure, and focused on removing friction. I ask:
- “What’s frustrating you lately?”
- “What’s one thing we should fix to help you move faster?”
This is where people share the truth about unclear direction, teammate tensions, or burnout that would never surface in a group.
Your best feedback happens in private.
4. Deliver Small Wins Fast
No one wants to feel like they’re working in a vacuum. Long sprints with nothing visible to show can kill momentum.
One project I remember was backend-heavy. After two weeks, we shipped a basic UI shell just to show something. Morale lifted immediately. Stakeholders got excited. The team felt progress again.
Tiny shippable pieces = a big morale boost.
5. Upgrade the Team or the Environment
Sometimes a team isn’t performing because they’re missing senior support. Or the wrong person is in the wrong seat. Other times, good people are stuck in a system that makes great work nearly impossible.
As leaders, it’s our job to know the difference and fix what we can first.
Don’t rush to replace people. Start with structure.
Spot the Hidden Work That’s Dragging Teams Down
Sometimes, performance issues have nothing to do with planning or motivation, they come from invisible workloads that aren’t captured on any board or sprint plan.
I’ve seen teams that look underproductive, but are actually overwhelmed by things like:
- Constant context-switching from Slack pings
- Helping other teams troubleshoot issues
- Manually cleaning up legacy code or outdated systems
- Chasing vague or incomplete requirements
These tasks often go untracked, but they eat up real hours and energy. If your team feels stuck, it might not be about velocity or skills, it might be about where their time is going.
I’ve learned to ask, “What’s taking up your time that no one sees?” You’d be surprised how much hidden work you can uncover just by being curious.
Look beyond the sprint board. What’s invisible might be the real blocker.
Before You Point Fingers, Step Back
When a team struggles, our gut reaction is to dive in or micromanage. But more often than not, the real fix is to step back:
- Align on the goal
- Streamline the system
- Create safe space for feedback
- Show visible progress
- Support the people — or evolve the environment
It’s not a quick fix. But it works.
Let’s Take This Further
If you’re a tech leader hiring or looking to build a high-performing development team, we’d love to support you. From sourcing strong candidates to assembling teams that deliver, that’s what we do.
Get in touch with us here. No pressure, just a conversation.
