FAHA: Communication between mentors

[Bharat Nain]

Maintaining relations between the team leadership is vital to a functional team. What do you suggest this FIRST-A-Holic in this situation?

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Hi Everyone,

I am mentoring a rookie team this year, and I am having some trouble with a teacher who is also in charge of the class.

Background: I am a team alumni and he is a teacher. I don't want to disclose any more.


The problem:
I'll put modesty aside for a second and say that I'm an active person - when I am in a group I like to take the reigns.
Couple that with the fact that I have more experience with FIRST than he does (I've competed and he just heard of the program), I can program and do gear calculations and that the kids look up to me a bit - and you get a pretty nasty situation.

The other day we were working on the practice robot and for 4 hours he had no input at all. maybe two lines.
Now don't get me wrong I worship mentors who let students do all the work but he really didn't contribute anything (I can't understand why because I'm 90% positive he has loads to contribute).

after that day I talked to him about the next meeting because we needed to notify the team by e-mail.
we agreed I would e-mail the team regarding the next meeting.

when I e-mailed the team I didn't just tell them when the next meeting was.
I made it a bit more informative than that... I added a bit of info about the kickoff event and such.

when I talked to him today he said that he thinks that from now on mails like that should come from him, not me.

that really hurt.

I mean come on... what is this like some sort of contest?

does he think I'm threatening his position as a leader? if so why is that bothering him?
does he think I want his job?
does he think they will fire him because of me?

I want it to be clear to him that I intend on being a full time mentor - because that's what I signed up for and that's what I'm capable of. not some sort of fall back meeting supervisor.

I'm looking for your input on this.
Can you relate to the teacher and maybe try and help me understand his position?
I want to talk to him and make him understand my point here.

I feel that this is a joint venture and that we should be taking the reigns together but right now I feel like he's not picking them up and not only that - he's criticizing me because I am picking them up!
someone has got to take the lead and if he isn't stepping up to the plate than I will - but the thing is: this plate has room enough for two!

thanks for listening and I hope you can help me...

-Frustrated FIRSTer


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FIRST-a-holic Anonymous mailbox is a place to share your concern and frustration about your FIRST experience anonymously. It is the perfect place if you just want someone to listen, or ask for advice when you don’t know what to do. Submit your letters today at the FIRST-a-holic anonymous mailbox forum. If you wish to respond to this thread anonymously, please PM Beth or Bharat with your response and thread title.

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