Your Machine Learning team is underperforming. What can you do to get them back on track?

Most times, if your data scientists are not able to perform, the reason could be - incapability. Either not able to cope up with expectations (in terms of turn-around-time) or skillsets. Remediation starts by getting a firm assertion from the team members that they wish to excel in this field of expertise and are willing to go to any length to master it. Coaching works when the coachee is fired up to attain results and not coach alone. Once this is achieved, they can set goals & self-expectations which you can vet to confirm the feasibility.

- Set Clear, Achievable Goals: Define specific, measurable objectives that align with project and organizational goals. - Establish Milestones: Create short-term and long-term targets to guide progress and maintain focus. - Effective Communication: Ensure goals and expectations are clearly communicated and understood by all team members. - Regular Revisions: Revisit and adjust goals as needed to adapt to project or market changes. - Focus and Motivation: Use clear goals to direct efforts, optimize resources, and foster a sense of achievement, enhancing productivity.

- Regular Check-Ins: Schedule consistent meetings (daily or weekly) to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps. - Open Communication Channels: Maintain multiple channels (e.g., email, Slack, meetings) for team members to share ideas and feedback. - Active Listening: Encourage team leaders to practice active listening, valuing each member's input and fostering a collaborative environment. - Transparent Updates: Share updates on project status, changes, and achievements to keep everyone informed and aligned. - Feedback Loop: Implement a structured feedback system for continuous improvement in processes and team performance.

- Constructive Feedback: Offer timely, specific, and actionable feedback to guide improvements and acknowledge achievements. - Personalized Support: Tailor support to individual team members' needs, recognizing diverse skills and learning curves. - Professional Development: Encourage and facilitate opportunities for skill enhancement and learning new technologies. - Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledge accomplishments and contributions to motivate and reinforce positive behaviors. - Safe Environment: Foster a culture where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, promoting innovation and experimentation.

Learning with proper feedback is an excellent way to go about and really boost the overall performance of the team. There should be group code reviews, resource sharing and a diversity of learning within the team in order to maximize the amount of return that can be squeezed from a limited time-frame.

- Cross-functional Teams: Encourage collaboration between different skill sets and departments to foster innovation and holistic problem-solving. - Knowledge Sharing: Implement regular knowledge-sharing sessions, such as workshops or tech talks, to disseminate new insights and techniques. - Pair Programming: Utilize pair programming or peer review practices to facilitate learning and improve code quality. - Learning Resources: Provide access to courses, conferences, and seminars for continuous professional growth.

There are many reasons why teams underperform. In some cases it is that the team us over worked or sometimes it is taking on same mundane work. Try to bring in projects which provide diversity of needs and outcomes. Create a mechanism for monetary rewards for producing stellar work. Create a mechanism for both internal and external recognition. There are numerous way in motivating teams.

- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Establish clear KPIs related to project goals, efficiency, and innovation to measure progress. - Regular Reviews: Conduct periodic performance reviews to assess individual and team achievements against set objectives. - Data-Driven Insights: Utilize project data and analytics to objectively evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement. - Adaptive Strategies: Be prepared to adjust strategies and goals based on performance data and feedback from the team. - Celebrate Success: Recognize and celebrate milestones and successes to motivate the team and reinforce positive outcomes.