Reshape Your Team Today for The Challenges Six Months Ahead

Think about all the times you worked with the same team, only to hit a wall when new problems cropped up. Maybe your online shop expanded faster than expected, and suddenly your best friend, who loved organizing files, had no clue how to manage customer returns from three countries. It’s tempting to believe that a loyal, tight group can just work harder or that people will grow into whatever the job needs. Once, a youth robotics team realized they were up against national finalists. They took a whiteboard, pictured winning—what tech would be needed, what skills, what new moves. They saw what nobody on the team had done before: coding in Python and public speaking for fundraising. Some older members stepped back to make room for fresh recruits, while a quiet new student led the funding pitch—unlocking a sponsorship.

You don’t have to be perfect at predicting the future, but you do need to be willing to let go of nostalgia and stretch for what tomorrow asks. Organizational psychologists call this proactive role design, a practice shown to increase both performance and resilience in fast-growing fields.

Tonight, imagine your team or group six months in the future—walk through the scene, watch how people work, and notice what’s different from today. Write down the biggest gaps in skills or experience. Then, don’t just hope things will sort themselves out—make one move now. Maybe you need to bring in a new person, train someone, or gently let go. That small action, taken early, can make all the difference when the next big challenge arrives.