Dev team underperforming? Here are 5 fixes that actually work

If your software team is missing deadlines, shipping buggy code, or just not clicking — you’re far from alone.

I’m Max, founder of Ideaware. Over the past decade, I’ve helped scale and rescue software teams—from my own startups to high-growth companies. And I’ve learned the hard way that panic and micromanagement only make things worse.

Here’s the good news: these five steps have actually worked in real-world scenarios. Let’s dive in.

1. Zoom Out Before You Zoom In

Before blaming individuals or pulling the team into endless standups, start upstream. Ask:

• Are we building the right thing?
• Do they understand why it matters?
• Is the scope actually realistic?

I once watched a team miss three sprints. Turns out the product owner had pivoted twice—without telling anyone.

2. Look at the System, Not Just the Symptoms

It’s easy to single out “slow” devs—but the issue often lies in the system:

• Unclear sprint goals
• Vague or oversized tasks
• Too much WIP (work in progress)

Most performance problems are process problems in disguise.

3. One-on-Ones > Standups

Standups give status. One-on-ones surface truth.

Make them regular, focused, and safe. Ask:

• “What’s been frustrating you lately?”
• “What would make your work smoother?”

You’ll uncover blockers, misalignment, and culture issues faster than in any standup.

4. Deliver Small Wins Fast

Morale drops when teams don’t see progress.

Instead of grinding for weeks, ship something visible — even if it’s small. Celebrate it. Momentum builds fast when wins are tangible.

One team I worked with shipped a UI shell after backend delays — and suddenly everyone was re-energized.

5. Upgrade the Team or the Environment

If nothing’s working, it might be time to change the system — or the people.

Ask:

• Do we need to bring in more senior talent?
• Are leadership and ownership aligned?
• Is the culture enabling performance?

More often than not, good people are stuck in broken environments.

Bonus: Ask About Invisible Work 🕵️

Not everything’s on the sprint board. Ask your team:

• “What’s draining your time that we’re not tracking?”

You’ll often discover major time sucks — Slack overload, context switching, unplanned support.

Final Thought

Before you default to blame, zoom out. Look at:

1. Clarity
2. Process
3. Feedback
4. Visibility
5. Fit

It’s not magic — it’s leadership. And it works.

Need help turning things around? DM me or reach out via ideaware.co. Always happy to chat.