As Aviv Ben-Yosef wisely noted in Episode 45 of the Scaling Tech Podcast, “Life is too short to lead an average team.”
This principle resonates deeply when building and managing external software development teams, as AgilityFeat does in Latin America for our clients. Drawing inspiration from this discussion on team amplification, let’s explore how these insights apply to creating high-impact outcomes with your extended engineering teams.
Unlocking Your Team’s Full Potential
The Power of “Why”
One of the most powerful insights from the episode is the importance of encouraging teams to ask “why.” In the context of staff augmentation and distributed teams, this becomes even more crucial. When team members understand the purpose behind their tasks, they deliver more meaningful work and perform at a higher capacity.
This means:
- Creating an environment where questioning and curiosity are celebrated
- Ensuring clear communication of project goals and business context
- Fostering direct communication channels between development partners and key stakeholders
Innovation as a Habit
Regular innovation sprints can be transformative for outsourced teams. Even when working with distributed development teams, dedicating time for innovation can yield remarkable results.
Consider implementing:
- Quarterly innovation weeks
- Cross-functional collaboration opportunities
- Structured time for technical exploration and improvement
- Channels for sharing innovations across the organization
Building Tech Capital Through Partnership
A crucial concept in team amplification is the development of “tech capital” – a term that Aviv uses to describe “the technological assets and capabilities that can be leveraged across the entire organization to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth”.
External development teams are uniquely positioned to contribute to tech capital through:
- Internal tooling development
- Process automation
- Knowledge base creation
- Technical infrastructure improvements
Unlike feature work, which may depreciate over time, these contributions create lasting value for your organization.
Fostering High-Impact Teams
In order to create nearshore teams that really help you move the needle:
1. Empower Autonomous Decision-Making
- Trust your augmented teams with meaningful projects
- Provide clear frameworks for decision-making
- Enable direct communication with key stakeholders
2. Encourage Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Break down silos between external and in-house teams
- Create opportunities for knowledge sharing
- Foster relationships across departmental boundaries
3. Focus on Growth and Learning
- Implement regular learning sessions
- Provide opportunities for skill development
- Create mentorship programs that span team boundaries
Measuring Impact and Success
To ensure your extended team is creating meaningful impact:
- Track contributions to tech capital
- Measure innovation outcomes
- Monitor team engagement and satisfaction
- Assess business impact of technical initiatives
Integral Partners for Long-Term Growth
As we’ve learned from this Scaling Tech Podcast episode, as well as our own experience, creating high-impact engineering teams requires intentional effort and the right environment. When applied to outsourced teams, these principles can help create powerful extensions of your organization and become true partners in your organization’s success. The key is to view them not as temporary resources, but as valuable contributors to your company’s long-term technical excellence.
Remember: Every team member, whether in-house or external, has the potential to make significant contributions. Our role as leaders is to create the environment where this potential can flourish.
The Nearshore Partnership Advantage
When considering distributed development resources, nearshore teams in Latin America offer unique advantages that enhance team amplification:
- Time Zone Alignment: Enables real-time collaboration and faster decision-making
- Cultural Affinity: Facilitates better communication and understanding
- Technical Excellence: Access to highly skilled developers who can contribute to tech capital
- Scalability: Ability to quickly adjust team size while maintaining quality
Get Started with a Free Assessment
At AgilityFeat, we specialize in helping businesses like yours navigate the complexities of software development nearshoring. Our experienced team will guide you through every step of the process, from selecting the right software developers to building strong, collaborative teams, and even to helping you establish your own subsidiaries in Latin America via a Build-Operate-Transfer model, if you choose.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today for a free consultation! Let’s work together to unlock new opportunities and drive your business forward!
