Build healthier, higher-performing teams

Strong teams don't happen by accident — they're built on clarity, trust, and the right conditions to do great work. This team health check gives agile teams a shared language to reflect on how they're really doing across ownership, value, alignment, communication, and the everyday experience of working together. By rating each dimension on a simple scale, team members surface what's working well and what needs attention, turning gut feelings into honest, actionable conversations. Use it regularly to track progress over time, spark meaningful retrospectives, and help your team stay healthy, motivated, and high-performing.

Dimensions

Team Health Dimensions

Core dimensions that shape how a team performs, collaborates, and stays motivated — from clear ownership and shared goals through to process, support, and the enjoyment of working together.

  • Ownership

    The team has clear ownership or a dedicated product owner who is accountable for the team's results and champions the mission inside and outside of the team.

    • No clear ownership
    • Some ownership
    • Clear, strong ownership
  • Value

    We can define and measure the value we provide to the business and the user.

    • Value is unclear
    • Value is partly defined
    • Value is clear and measured
  • Goal Alignment

    Everyone understands why they are here, supports the idea, and believes they have what it takes to create solutions that add value.

    • Goals are misaligned
    • Partial alignment
    • Fully aligned and committed
  • Communication

    We have clear and consistent communication that ensures that issues are shared, conflict is reduced, and everyone can work with greater efficiency.

    • Communication is poor
    • Communication is inconsistent
    • Clear and consistent
  • Team Roles

    The current team skill set is right for the current stage and there are clear roles and responsibilities for each person in the team.

    • Roles are unclear
    • Roles are partly defined
    • Roles are clear and fit
  • Velocity

    We learn and implement lessons leading to incremental progress in iterations and production as we go.

    • Little progress
    • Some progress
    • Steady, learning progress
  • Support and Resources

    We are equipped with the right tools and resources and can easily access support from within and outside the team.

    • Lacking support
    • Some support
    • Well-resourced and supported
  • Process

    Our processes are aligned, effective, and free of unnecessary delays and blocks. We have metrics in place to measure our goals.

    • Processes are blocked
    • Processes are workable
    • Aligned and effective
  • Fun

    We enjoy our work and working as a team. We are being challenged and can develop our skill set or acquire new ones.

    • Not enjoyable
    • Sometimes enjoyable
    • Enjoyable and challenging

When to use this health check

  • During a regular retrospective to take the team's pulse and spark honest discussion.
  • When forming a new team and you want a baseline across the core dimensions of team health.
  • After a period of change — reorganization, new members, or shifting goals — to check how the team is coping.
  • On a recurring cadence (e.g. monthly or per sprint) to track team health trends over time.
  • When team performance or morale feels off and you need to pinpoint where the issues are.

Tips & tricks

  • Keep responses anonymous so people feel safe being candid about how the team is really doing.
  • Run the check on a consistent cadence so you can compare results and spot trends over time.
  • Focus the discussion on the lowest-scoring and most divided dimensions — that's where the richest conversations live.
  • Turn insights into one or two concrete actions with owners, rather than trying to fix everything at once.
  • Revisit previous actions at the start of each session to build accountability and momentum.

Frequently asked questions

What is a team health check?
A team health check is a quick, structured way for a team to reflect on how it's performing across key dimensions such as ownership, value, alignment, communication, and enjoyment. Team members rate each area, then discuss the results together to surface strengths and areas that need attention.
How often should we run a team health check?
Most teams run a health check on a regular cadence — every sprint, monthly, or quarterly. Running it consistently lets you track trends over time and see whether the actions you take are actually improving team health.
Who should take part in the team health check?
Everyone on the team should participate, including the product owner and any supporting roles. The more honest and complete the input, the more valuable the resulting conversation and actions will be.
What do we do with the results?
Use the results to drive a focused conversation in your retrospective. Look at the lowest-scoring and most divided dimensions, agree on one or two concrete actions with clear owners, and revisit them in your next session.