Talk by Tom Jans
LeSS Conference Amsterdam 2026
What does commitment really mean in a team?
In this thought-provoking talk, Tom Jans explores the idea of commitment through the lens of philosophy and applies it to the practical reality of building teams in a LeSS adoption.
Starting from a simple but powerful question — what is commitment, really? — Tom draws on the work of philosopher Margaret Gilbert and her theory of joint commitment. He shows how commitment is more than personal intention or motivation: it is something that emerges when people explicitly and mutually commit to doing something together.
This creates a deeper understanding of what it means for a team to truly become a team.
Tom also connects the theory to psychological research and concrete examples from his latest LeSS flip, showing how team formation, explicit agreements, sprint goals, and volunteering all become stronger when viewed through the lens of joint commitment.
At its core, this talk is about the social foundation of teamwork: teams are not just groups of people doing tasks in parallel. They become teams when they commit to goals and to each other.
This session is especially relevant for coaches, Scrum Masters, leaders, and practitioners interested in the deeper human and philosophical foundations of teamwork and self-management.
LeSS Conference Amsterdam 2026
https://less.works
