April 17, 2026
The experiment that many companies are doing in silence: increasingly smaller teams
Technology and Productivity
Forget big offices full of people. That image of success is as much of the last century as the fax machine. Today, efficiency is measured in the relationship between output and human input. And with the onslaught of digital tools, automation and Artificial Intelligence, that relationship is becoming increasingly imbalanced in favor of technology. Companies have discovered a secret formula: smaller, but hyper-optimized teams can achieve the same (or more) than giant teams.
It is not a trend, it is a survival strategy in an ultra-competitive global market. Every dollar invested in technology that reduces the need for a salary is a dollar that goes directly to profitability. And CEOs, who are not stupid, know it. While you worry about the office coffee, they are calculating how many of your colleagues can be replaced by an algorithm.
The "Block effect": When efficiency eats up the workforce
The case of Block, Jack Dorsey's company, is a brutal mirror of this reality. They laid off 40% of their workforce (more than 4,000 people) not because of a crisis, but to be more efficient thanks to AI. Your "Goose" system is not a duck, it is software that orchestrates processes and automates decisions, allowing the remaining teams to multiply their capacity. This means that a team of 6,000 people now does the work that previously required 10,000.
This is not an isolated incident. It is the model to follow for many companies seeking to maximize productivity without increasing (or even reducing) personnel costs. AI doesn't just automate tasks; allows for process reengineering so profound that the need for human labor is dramatically reduced. And investors, who only see numbers, celebrate.
How do you achieve more with less? The lean team recipe
The key is in the synergy between humans and machines, but with a clear power imbalance. Here are the ingredients of this silent experiment that is redefining the concept of "team":
Key Component DescriptionImpact on Team SizeIntelligent AutomationImplementation of AI for repetitive tasks, data analysis, content generation and process optimization.Dramatically reduces the need for staff for operational and support roles.Advanced Collaboration ToolsIntensive use of platforms such as Notion, Slack, Asana, Jira, which centralize communication and project management.Improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary meetings and enable smaller distributed teams.AI as Force MultiplierEach employee uses AI tools to enhance their individual capacity (e.g. designer with Midjourney, editor with Jasper.ai).Transforms each individual into a "small army", increasing their output without the need to hire more.Flat Organizational StructuresElimination of intermediate layers of management and promoting autonomy.Reduces the need for supervisors and managers, streamlining decision making.Culture of Efficiency and ResultsObsessive focus on performance metrics productivity and results, encouraging constant optimization. It pushes teams to find ways to do more with less, often through technology.
If your company is not yet in this phase, it is a matter of time. The pressure for efficiency is global. And if you're not providing value that AI can't replicate, or if you're not using AI to multiply your own value, you're becoming a liability. It's not a threat, it's a warning. The labor market is no longer a numbers game, it is a value-added game.
Your Containment Plan: How not to be the eliminated variable
Don't wait for the experiment to leave you out. You have the power to become an indispensable asset. Here we leave you an action plan so that you not only survive, but thrive in this new era of "lean" teams:
1. Become a "Digital Orchestra Master"
You don't need to be a programmer, but you do need to be a strategist who knows how to integrate and manage AI and automation tools. Learn how to make bots work for you. If you can orchestrate an ecosystem of tools that multiply your team's (or your own) productivity, you will become invaluable. Explore platforms like Zapier, Make.com, or AI integrations in Notion and Slack. Your role will be that of an orchestra director, not just another musician.
2. Develop "High Human Impact" Skills
Focus on what AI can't do yet: strategic thinking, disruptive creativity, emotional intelligence, inspirational leadership, and complex problem solving. These are the skills that will allow you to design the experiments, not be part of them. Look for roles that require these capabilities and actively demonstrate them in your daily work.
3. Be the Internal "Change Agent"
Propose and lead automation and optimization initiatives within your own team or department. It demonstrates how technology can make work more efficient, freeing humans for higher-value tasks. Don't wait for the company to impose the change; You be the one who drives it. This will position you as a leader and an innovator, not someone who fears evolution.
4. Adopt the “Constant Update” Mentality
Knowledge is your most valuable currency. Spend time each week learning about the latest trends in AI, automation, and new work methodologies. Participate in courses, webinars, read specialized blogs and experiment with new tools. Complacency is the number one enemy in this age. Your ability to adapt and continuously learn will be your best employment insurance.
Ready for the challenge?
This silent experiment is a warning, but also an opportunity. Companies seek efficiency, and you can be the key to achieving it, not the victim of it. The choice is yours: will you be the one who adapts and leads the change, or the one who becomes obsolete? Remi already gave you the information. Now, let's act!
What step are you going to take today to ensure that you are not an eliminated variable in your company's experiment?
It is not a trend, it is a survival strategy in an ultra-competitive global market. Every dollar invested in technology that reduces the need for a salary is a dollar that goes directly to profitability. And CEOs, who are not stupid, know it. While you worry about the office coffee, they are calculating how many of your colleagues can be replaced by an algorithm.
The "Block effect": When efficiency eats up the workforce
The case of Block, Jack Dorsey's company, is a brutal mirror of this reality. They laid off 40% of their workforce (more than 4,000 people) not because of a crisis, but to be more efficient thanks to AI. Your "Goose" system is not a duck, it is software that orchestrates processes and automates decisions, allowing the remaining teams to multiply their capacity. This means that a team of 6,000 people now does the work that previously required 10,000.
This is not an isolated incident. It is the model to follow for many companies seeking to maximize productivity without increasing (or even reducing) personnel costs. AI doesn't just automate tasks; allows for process reengineering so profound that the need for human labor is dramatically reduced. And investors, who only see numbers, celebrate.
How do you achieve more with less? The lean team recipe
The key is in the synergy between humans and machines, but with a clear power imbalance. Here are the ingredients of this silent experiment that is redefining the concept of "team":
Key Component DescriptionImpact on Team SizeIntelligent AutomationImplementation of AI for repetitive tasks, data analysis, content generation and process optimization.Dramatically reduces the need for staff for operational and support roles.Advanced Collaboration ToolsIntensive use of platforms such as Notion, Slack, Asana, Jira, which centralize communication and project management.Improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary meetings and enable smaller distributed teams.AI as Force MultiplierEach employee uses AI tools to enhance their individual capacity (e.g. designer with Midjourney, editor with Jasper.ai).Transforms each individual into a "small army", increasing their output without the need to hire more.Flat Organizational StructuresElimination of intermediate layers of management and promoting autonomy.Reduces the need for supervisors and managers, streamlining decision making.Culture of Efficiency and ResultsObsessive focus on performance metrics productivity and results, encouraging constant optimization. It pushes teams to find ways to do more with less, often through technology.
If your company is not yet in this phase, it is a matter of time. The pressure for efficiency is global. And if you're not providing value that AI can't replicate, or if you're not using AI to multiply your own value, you're becoming a liability. It's not a threat, it's a warning. The labor market is no longer a numbers game, it is a value-added game.
Your Containment Plan: How not to be the eliminated variable
Don't wait for the experiment to leave you out. You have the power to become an indispensable asset. Here we leave you an action plan so that you not only survive, but thrive in this new era of "lean" teams:
1. Become a "Digital Orchestra Master"
You don't need to be a programmer, but you do need to be a strategist who knows how to integrate and manage AI and automation tools. Learn how to make bots work for you. If you can orchestrate an ecosystem of tools that multiply your team's (or your own) productivity, you will become invaluable. Explore platforms like Zapier, Make.com, or AI integrations in Notion and Slack. Your role will be that of an orchestra director, not just another musician.
2. Develop "High Human Impact" Skills
Focus on what AI can't do yet: strategic thinking, disruptive creativity, emotional intelligence, inspirational leadership, and complex problem solving. These are the skills that will allow you to design the experiments, not be part of them. Look for roles that require these capabilities and actively demonstrate them in your daily work.
3. Be the Internal "Change Agent"
Propose and lead automation and optimization initiatives within your own team or department. It demonstrates how technology can make work more efficient, freeing humans for higher-value tasks. Don't wait for the company to impose the change; You be the one who drives it. This will position you as a leader and an innovator, not someone who fears evolution.
4. Adopt the “Constant Update” Mentality
Knowledge is your most valuable currency. Spend time each week learning about the latest trends in AI, automation, and new work methodologies. Participate in courses, webinars, read specialized blogs and experiment with new tools. Complacency is the number one enemy in this age. Your ability to adapt and continuously learn will be your best employment insurance.
Ready for the challenge?
This silent experiment is a warning, but also an opportunity. Companies seek efficiency, and you can be the key to achieving it, not the victim of it. The choice is yours: will you be the one who adapts and leads the change, or the one who becomes obsolete? Remi already gave you the information. Now, let's act!
What step are you going to take today to ensure that you are not an eliminated variable in your company's experiment?
