Autonomy and

leadership at
Spotify
Anders Ivarsson
@anders_ivarsson
It all begins with
WHY
 Squads and tribes We enable feature
We connect teams to innovate
artists with our and iterate lightning
users! fast
We help our
users find what
they are looking
for!

Client Infrastructure Tribe

We give the
world the right
music for every
We help our moment
users find, save
and play music
Search Squad Squad Squad
Search Arist Squad Squad

Music Player Tribe

Section name 4
Infrastructure squads Client platform squads

IOS Android Desktop Web

Feature squads
Chapters
Tribe

Chapter

Chapter

Squad Squad Squad Squad

Squad Squad Squad Squad
So … “the Spotify model”
Tribe

Chapter
• Never intended as a model
• Snapshot of how we work
Chapter
• Constant evolution

Squad Squad Squad Squad

Squad Squad Squad Squad
Evolution and experimentation
Tribe

Tribes larger than 100

persons?
MAYBE

Squad Squad Squad Squad Squad Squad

Squad Squad Squad Squad Squad Squad
Evolution and experimentation
Tribe

Chapter
Squad leads?
NO
Chapter

Squad Squad Squad Squad

Squad Squad Squad Squad
Evolution and experimentation
Tribe

T P

Chapter
Tribes =
Technology and Product
Chapter
YES

Squad Squad Squad Squad

Squad Squad Squad Squad
Organic Structure If you need to know exactly
who is making decisions,
you are in the wrong place
Success is all
about the team
Explore the context
Users and
stakeholders

1.
2.
3. Priorities

Interfaces
Deliver value – early and often
Prototyping

Squad and Continuous delivery

core metrics
Keep improving
“We aim to make mistakes
faster than anyone else” –
Daniel Ek

Embrace failure

Retrospectives

Improve
everything
Kickass engineering
Automate
everything
Collective code
ownership

Platformize
Leadership is all
about supporting
the team
Leadership
is a behavior
– not a role
Product Owner
P

• What and why?

• Product vision
• Squad mission
• Purpose
• Alignment
P P P P
Squad Squad Squad Squad
Agile coach
AC
P

Individual

• High performing teams

Squad
• Continuous improvement
AC • Ways of working
• Collaboration
• High performing organization
Tribe
 Chapter Lead CL
C
P
CL

Chapter
CL
• Grow individuals
• Grow chapter competence
• Hire the right people
Chapter
• Salary reviews

P P P P
Squad Squad Squad Squad
 Squad support
AC P CL

How can we
support our squad?

Product Owner
Chapter (Team) Lead ”POTLAC”
Agile Coach
 AC P CL
Strong leadership team

Good manager

Dysfunctional leadership team

Bad manager
 Support the squad on their journey
towards high performance
TEAM DYNAMICS RESULT DRIVEN ACTIVITIES

Counter- Explore the

Trust and structure dependency and context
fight

3 2 Deliver value early

and often

Keep improving
Work and Dependency and
productivity inclusion Kickass
4 1 engineering
Alignment

Autonomy
 Authoritative Innovative
organization organization
Conformist Collaborative
culture culture
Alignment

Micromanaging
organization
Indifferent Entrepreneurial
culture organization
Chaotic
culture

Autonomy
Strong autonomous teams
with clear missions

P CL
AC

and supporting leadership

Thank you!

Anders Ivarsson
@anders_ivarsson