[DampRobot]

Some stuff I learned while in leadership positions on my team (not captain, but drive coach and mechanical lead):

• Lead from the front: The only way to get respect is by working harder than anyone else and being the best you can be. You should not appear to be a manager (although that's your main role), but as someone who works on stuff just like any other member.
• Planning is essential: Always have information about timeline and how long stuff takes at the top of your mind. You should know how long it will take to mill the drivetrain, how long is needed to assemble it, when the Vex Pro order is coming in, when it will be ready to be wired, how long it will take to be wired, and how long after that it will be driving. A lot of my role as leader was making sure that we did something today that we will regret not having done in three weeks if we don't do it now.
• Massage egos: You will meet some people in FRC that are hard to work with, and it is your unfortunate job as manager to work with them. Let other people take credit for work they didn't do, and let them think that they're making decisions they're not really making. It may be hard to see this, but mentors and important members of the team will know that is was really you behind the team's successes. If people think they're in control, they'll generally be a lot happier than if they're "taking orders" from you.
• Unemployment is bad: A lot of your job will be giving other people jobs to do. Make sure you have a (mental) list of things that need to be done, and match them up with people that can do them when they don't have anything else to do. Just because you can do something better than someone doesn't mean you should be doing it. On the other hand, try to give people jobs that they can actually handle. You shouldn't give off the impression of ordering them around either.
• Be cool: If the kids working with you look up to you, your job as a leader is vastly easier. You don't have to be cool in the mainstream sense (skateboards and ripped jeans) but you should be someone cool in the sense that older kids are cool: they're confident, they know how to have fun and they have been through it all before.

Those are just a few things I picked up as mechanical lead and drive coach. YMMV.