Project Failure Files: The Pitfalls of a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

In Episode 46 of the Project Failure Files weekly webcast, our focus was “Treating Geographically-Dispersed Teams The Same,” in which Sharon and I discuss the challenges of managing geographically-dispersed teams, and why treating them as if they’re co-located can backfire. Many organizations still apply a one-size-fits-all model to global teams, expecting synchronized availability, standardized workflows, and centralized decision-making that often ignores regional differences in time zones, communication styles, and cultural norms. These mismatches can lead to disengagement, productivity breakdowns, and morale issues among remote and hybrid teams.

Sharon and I share personal experiences managing international teams and highlight how localized expectations and poor communication have led to friction. We also explore how cultural biases and lack of visibility can create insider-outsider dynamics, leading to performance gaps and disengagement. Through this discussion, we emphasize the importance of customizing management strategies to fit the realities of each team, instead of expecting teams to adapt to outdated or centralized models.

Listeners are offered practical solutions such as rotating meeting times, conducting “team norms” workshops, and empowering local leads to represent their regions. Embracing asynchronous communication, acknowledging regional holidays, and investing in remote leadership training are all part of the toolkit for building equitable, effective global teams. The episode closes with a call to action for both managers and team members to reassess expectations, advocate for inclusive changes, and work toward a flexible and sustainable distributed team culture.

Enjoy the episode!

Be sure to tune in next Monday, May 5th at 9am Pacific for Episode 47 of our weekly series as Sharon and I discuss “Juggling Stakeholder Reporting and Measurement Requests.“ Hope you can join us on LinkedIn or YouTube.