I’ve talked about Team metaphors before. This is a very sportsy metaphor. (Or is it a simile?)
Inevitably it happens that a solid team “finishes the season.” What that looks like in software development is different than sports undoubtedly. But, when the big project or version ships the team no longer shares a single purpose. I guess the really great teams didn’t need a version or end of project as a goal, but I suspect most teams do.
It makes sense to me that in that window after the end of the season people will want to find that intensity and purpose again. It’s hard to wait for it to happen organically – heck it might never happen organically.
And this probably means people leave. Which puts the team back into rebuilding.
Winning the final game is an amazing feeling, but it inevitability leads to change.