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Re: Overbearing parents
I've been the school contact for 8 years now and have worked with 3 different team leaders -- 2 are/were parents, 1 was an engineer. Leadership styles differ greatly and how much input is accepted from different team members has varied per the leaders. One leader put almost everything to the team to vote while another one had a parents' advisory committee making many important decisions behind the scenes.
The key question is: if this leader were to step down, would someone else be there to take his/her place? I don't think most people realize how time intensive running a FIRST team is. Some teams may have the luxury of choosing among a multitude of volunteers for the key leadership position and can actually select someone whose judgement, style, and experience makes them a good leader. But for others, there is only one volunteer and without him/her, there will be no team, regardless of whether this person is a quality leader.
If there are other adults willing to step in for this overbearing parent, then perhaps a group of you frustrated students and these adults could meet together to determine a game plan to work with this leader. If there are no other potential leaders, then perhaps the best you can do is to volunteer to "do" some key tasks for this leader -- areas where he/she could delegate not only the work but also the responsiblity to you -- you get to experience more of a leadership role and he/she gets some stress removed.
I wish I could say that all leaders are good leaders. I think most of us are realistic enough to know that is not true. Learning to work with a less-than ideal leader is great training, though, for when you'll get a less-than-ideal boss.
One key thing: if this leader knows he/she can rely on you to do all you have committed to do, then he/she is going to be more apt to listen to you when you make some suggestions. In other words, do something to prove yourself worth listening to and be supportive every time you can be, so that you don't come across as an always-complainer.
Some people think this contest is only about robots! Personally, I think our students and me personally have learned more about how to work with people -- an important lifeskill as well.
Penny Ross
Hope Chapel Academy
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