Ever watched a kid learn to ride a bike? There's a moment when you have to let go of the seat. Sure, they might wobble, but that wobble is where the real learning happens. Turns out, the same principle applies to building high-performing teams.
The Counter-Intuitive Truth About Training
At TribalScale, we've discovered something that might sound crazy: sometimes, the best way to train people is to... undertrain them. (Stay with me here.)
The Method Behind the Madness
Here's our "strategically chaotic" approach:
Teach the essentials (values, philosophy, basic processes)
Show them where the guardrails are
Then... let them start working
Most importantly: Create an environment where asking for help is not just okay – it's expected
Why This Works (When Done Right)
Builds Real Problem-Solving Muscles: When you don't have a manual for everything, you learn to think critically
Creates Natural Collaboration: Need help? Now you have to talk to your teammates
Develops Self-Awareness: You quickly learn what you know and what you don't
Encourages Innovation: Without rigid processes, new approaches can emerge
The Secret Ingredient
Here's what makes this controlled chaos work: psychological safety. People need to know that:
Questions are welcome (even the "stupid" ones)
Help is always available
Mistakes are learning opportunities
The team has their back
Finding the Sweet Spot
There's a difference between strategic chaos and plain old chaos:
✅ Strategic: "Here's the problem we're solving, here's who can help, go figure it out"
❌ Chaos: "Good luck, don't break anything"
The ROI of Organized Uncertainty
The payoff? Teams that:
Learn faster
Collaborate naturally
Solve problems creatively
Build stronger relationships
Your Turn
Ready to embrace strategic chaos? Start small:
Identify low-risk areas for experimentation
Set clear boundaries and safety nets
Make "I need help" the easiest sentence to say
Watch the magic happen
Want to compare notes on controlled chaos or share your team's learning journey? Drop me a line at Linkedin – I'm always curious to hear how others are rethinking traditional training approaches.