Gardening Teamwork
Growing up on a soccer field taught me lessons that still shape how I view teamwork and leadership today.
From dedication to collaboration, the mindset needed to win on the pitch isn’t so different from what’s needed to succeed in system development.
Both require strategy, trust, communication — and the ability to adapt together.
Teamwork and Shared Goals
In soccer, a team is made up of players with different roles, but one shared goal.
The same applies to system development — architects, designers, developers, testers, and product owners all bring unique skills to achieve a common outcome.
The best moments, both on the field and in tech, happen when a group moves in sync — covering for each other, playing to each other’s strengths, and striving for the same win.
“Great teams are not made up of many well-rounded players. Great teams are made up of a variety of players, each having their own strengths.” — Pelé
Guiding Principles and Strategy
Just like a soccer team has a game plan, development teams need strategy and guiding principles.
A good game plan connects every move to purpose — ensuring each sprint or release supports a bigger goal.
In both fields, clear communication is the lifeblood.
Without it, coordination breaks down, trust fades, and the whole system suffers.
Building Trust Through Clarity
Trust grows when expectations are clear.
Everyone should understand the vision, goals, and responsibilities of the team.
This creates alignment — and allows people to step up, take initiative, and support one another.
A culture of open communication and risk-taking is essential.
Encourage honesty, curiosity, and the courage to try new ideas.
Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose
Teams thrive when they experience these three conditions:
Autonomy
Freedom to make decisions within clear boundaries.
Ownership over how work is done — whether on the field or in product delivery.
Mastery
The drive to improve and grow in a specific craft.
Mastery brings pride, competence, and continuous improvement.
Purpose
Connection to something larger than yourself — a mission, product, or shared vision.
Purpose fuels motivation and resilience through challenges.
These principles, highlighted by Daniel Pink and others, apply everywhere — from engineering to sports to leadership.
Architecture and Bounded Contexts
In soccer, the white lines define the playing field — the bounded context.
The same concept applies in software and organizational design.
Clear boundaries foster autonomy without chaos.
Organizing teams around business domains allows them to act independently and make faster, more focused decisions — reducing dependencies and friction.
“You build it, you run it.” — Werner Vogels, Amazon CTO
Conway’s Law reminds us that how we structure teams shapes the systems we build.
If communication lines are rigid and centralized, our software will reflect that — with tight coupling, bottlenecks, and friction.
Lessons from the Field
Success in soccer is measured in games.
Success in system development is measured over time — in adaptability, quality, and impact.
But the lesson is the same: Stay resilient. Work together. Keep improving.
Try building teams small enough to share two pizzas.
Organize them around bounded contexts, give them autonomy, mastery, and purpose — and coach them with clarity and trust.
That’s where the magic happens — both on the pitch and in product delivery.
“Great teams are gardens — they need space, light, and time to grow.”