Team Productivity Issues

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by hunter7193

We had some problems this year concerning communication and the formation of what we call a "collective". These people do whatever they want and sometimes this results in bad times for everybody. This is extremely unfortunate for us (non-collective) because they don't listen to us or even care that we exist. They change stuff without telling us, as well as just plain ignore us when we complain. They leave practice early and even left the Georgia Dome during nationals without telling anyone! About 40% of the collective are people that actually work (sort-of) during the build team but the other 60% are people that never do anything at all! These people were dropping duties such as scouting and other things. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with breaking up the collectives?

Here's a few things that might help
1> Organise your team such that the "collective" isn't all on the same subteam. spread them around so that they have less oppertunity to congregate.
2> Talk to your Teachers / Advisors / Mentors / team leadership. Put in the handbook that those that do not work with the team, will be asked to leave and those that do not act in the best interest of the team will be sanctioned. (this is about teamwork, not personalities)
3> Also add to the handbook that those who do not help will not go to any event (especially the championships).
4> Require that all changes to the design go through a "design review". Make sure that no one is exempt from this rule (even the adults).

Remember, this is all about teamwork. There is no place for personality conflicts once the season starts (there's just not enough time for that stuff).

Teamwork is a culture that must be fostered, if you don't foster and nurture teamwork then factions will develop and may, eventually, undermine the entire team. Like all things in FIRST ... this is difficult.