Collaborating on Habits: Indie Longevity Tips for Small Teams

Behind the Scenes: How Lack of Team Habits Sunk Our Kickstarter

Remember “Project Chimera,” the creature-collecting RPG we were pouring our hearts into? Yeah, the one that fizzled on Kickstarter? We’re doing a post-mortem, and the biggest culprit wasn’t a bad idea, but bad habits. Or, more accurately, a complete lack of collaborative ones.

We were three friends, all skilled in different areas: coding, art, and music. But we operated like three separate islands. Communication was sporadic, task management was nonexistent, and conflicts festered until they exploded. We thought passion was enough. It wasn’t.

The Communication Breakdown

Our biggest mistake? Assuming everyone was on the same page. We’d have bursts of excited brainstorming, then weeks of silence. Important decisions were made in private, leading to wasted effort and resentment. Remember that UI overhaul that completely blindsided the artist? Yeah, that cost us a week of progress and a lot of morale.

Actionable Tip: Establish a daily or bi-daily stand-up. Even a 5-minute video call where everyone shares what they’re working on, what they’re stuck on, and what their priorities are for the day can prevent massive miscommunication. Choose a communication platform (Slack, Discord) and commit to using it consistently.

Task Management Mayhem

“Who’s doing what?” was a question asked far too often, usually right before a deadline. Tasks weren’t clearly defined, deadlines were arbitrary, and progress was a mystery. We relied on a shared Google Doc that quickly became a chaotic mess.

Actionable Tip: Implement a task management tool like Trello, Asana, or even a simple Kanban board. Break down large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. Assign ownership and set realistic deadlines. Regularly review progress and adjust as needed.

Conflict Avoidance (and Explosion)

Small disagreements are inevitable, but we treated them like landmines. Instead of addressing issues head-on, we’d let them simmer, leading to passive-aggressive behavior and eventually, full-blown arguments. This created a toxic environment where no one felt safe sharing their concerns.

Actionable Tip: Establish clear guidelines for conflict resolution. Encourage open and honest communication. Actively listen to each other’s perspectives. Focus on finding solutions, not assigning blame. If needed, bring in a neutral third party to mediate.

The Documentation Desert

We were so focused on “doing” that we neglected documenting. Code wasn’t commented, design decisions weren’t recorded, and marketing plans were scribbled on napkins. This meant that onboarding new members (briefly considered) would have been a nightmare, and revisiting old code was like deciphering hieroglyphics.

Actionable Tip: Create a central repository for all project-related documentation. Use a tool like Google Docs, Notion, or a dedicated wiki. Document everything: code, design decisions, marketing plans, even meeting notes.

Building Collaborative Habits for Longevity

The failure of “Project Chimera” was a harsh lesson, but it taught us the importance of collaborative habits. Small indie teams thrive on clear communication, efficient task management, constructive conflict resolution, and consistent documentation.

Start small. Implement one or two changes at a time. Regularly review your progress and adjust your approach as needed. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for your team. The goal is to create a sustainable workflow that fosters both productivity and well-being.

One powerful method to monitor progress and refine these habits is through consistent journaling. Regularly reflecting on your team’s performance, documenting wins and losses, and noting areas for improvement can lead to significant growth. Keeping a game development journal allows you to track the impact of your collaborative habits on the project, leading to more informed decisions and a stronger team dynamic. Document your journey and learn from experience. Read about how to make the most of tracking progress Documenting Wins & Losses.