Scaling Sparta - Lessons for Growing a Dev Team

Explore lessons from ancient civilizations to scale modern development teams in this insightful conference talk. Delve into the challenges of scaling people rather than just systems, drawing parallels between company growth stages and historical examples. Learn how Sparta's military structure, the Mongol Empire's meritocracy, and Rome's organizational prowess offer valuable insights for today's tech leaders. Discover strategies for hiring generalists, fostering natural communication, embracing diversity, promoting based on merit, and maintaining simplicity in team structures. Gain practical advice on breaking into small teams, setting clear visions, mastering logistics, and investing in employee well-being. Apply these time-tested principles to navigate the complexities of scaling your development team from startup to industry leader.

Intro
Scaling people is hard.
Scaling isn't just bigger.
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The Spartans
A wall of men.
Find what you do best.
Hire generalists.
Allow natural communication.
The Mongols
Mongols were tough.
Genghis Khan
Embraced religious tolerance.
Promoted based on merit.
Cultivated equal(ish) rights.
Think strategically
Focus on what. Not how.
Enable autonomy.
Stay small.
Keep structure simple.
Focus on one thing.
The Romans
Caesar Augustus
Contractors
Break into small teams.
Set a clear vision
Master logistics.
Choose one project management tool.
Invest in your employees.
Acknowledge mental health.
Recognize hard work.
Introduce specialists.
Emily Freeman