Building the Right Team, Not Just Any Team

As we head further into Microsoft’s FY26, one thing is becoming obvious across the Microsoft ecosystem: it’s not the biggest teams that are winning. It’s those that are best-aligned. Across Sales, Marketing, Pre-sales, and delivery/professional services.

At Oaka Studio, we work with partner founders and leaders who are serious about scaling with purpose. And what we’re seeing time and again is this:

• A bigger team doesn’t guarantee growth.
• More roles don’t equal more results.
• And headcount without clarity just creates noise, distraction and lack of focus.

The partners growing best this year are the ones asking better questions - not just about who they need to hire, but what they’re trying to achieve and whether their structure supports it.

In the most effective teams we work with, certain patterns emerge. These partners:

• Think in outcomes, not org charts. Structure is shaped around growth goals, not just titles.

• Map roles to strategy, not just skills. Every role exists for a reason – and is clearly owned.

• Align sales and marketing around shared priorities. No more parallel tracks. Everyone pulls in the same direction.

• Bring delivery in early. To shape value, strengthen retention, and reduce rework.



• Resist reactive changes. They don’t rush to fill gaps or empty the bench - They pause to assess what’s really needed.

This kind of clarity is especially powerful in FY26, where Microsoft priorities are sharpening, GTM motions are evolving, and the pressure to deliver more with leaner teams is real.

This year, alignment is leverage.

If your team structure is unclear, you’ll feel it fast - in missed incentives, siloed execution, or wasted cycles chasing the wrong goals. Too many meetings, not enough movement. Too many hands, not enough ownership.

Instead of asking “Who do we need to hire?”, high-performing partners are asking:



• What are we actually trying to achieve this year?
• Does our current structure support that?
• Where are we duplicating effort, and where are the real gaps?
• How do we keep our best people focused and fulfilled?

This isn’t about complexity. It’s about clarity by design. And that starts by rethinking your approach to team building:

1. Be intentional with structure. Don’t default to what’s familiar. Design around outcomes and strategic roles.
2. Create rhythm and ownership. Empower your team with clear responsibilities and space to execute. Think OKRs, big rocks.
3. Connect the dots to Microsoft. Everyone – from marketing to delivery – should understand how their role supports Microsoft’s GTM focus, programs and partner incentives.
4. Celebrate success, not just output. Recognise value creation, not just activity.

If you're planning to grow this year – or just want to make sure your current team is set up to deliver – now is the time to get intentional.

That’s exactly what we do at Oaka.

Our Partner Clarity Calls are short, focused working sessions where we help you:

• Spot bottlenecks or misalignments in your structure
• Prioritise roles that drive traction (and drop the ones that don’t)
• Align your team to Microsoft’s priorities and your business goals
• Build the rhythm, clarity and culture your people need to thrive

These are not sales calls. They’re strategic sessions to help you lead with focus.

📅 Book your Partner Clarity Call → You bring the ambition. We’ll help shape the team to support it.

#MicrosoftPartner #GTMStrategy #FY26 #PartnerClarity #GrowthWithPurpose #B2BLeadership #TeamDesign #PartnerEcosystem #TeamBuilding #MicrosoftCloud #FY26Ready #PartnerLeadership #FounderLed #HighPerformanceTeams #LeadershipInTech #MicrosoftEcosystem #BusinessApplications #BizApps #LowCode #PartnerCommunity #MSPartner #PartnersMakeMorePossible #ISV #SI