How to lead a team

[vivek16]

Just put the effort into it, be patient, be confident, and things will fall into place.

If you ever need any advice, many people on chiefdelphi are willing to help. I recommend picking a person you look up to from a local team and putting them on your speed dial. I've got someone that I talk to if I have a question.

-Vivek

[Tom Line]

1. Be confident. Even if you're not.
2. Trust in others. Give them a job, and let them fail at it. Don't hover over them. This will help develop your team, and other leaders will step up.
3. Be complimentary when giving critism. "That looks really good! What would happen if you tried XXXX". Rather than "That will never work. Do this."
4. Do NOT make it a popularity contest. Don't pick the coolest, funniest, or most hip person to do things. Pick the most competent person.
5. Have discipline, and reinforce through action rather than deed that you ARE the boss. Hold people to their commitments. Remove them when it's clear they're not capable of keeping them.
6. Do the right thing. What would you do if you were NOT afraid of disappointing or upsetting someone? That is probably the right course.
7. Admit mistakes freely. Then move on. The object is to establish there has been an error and then find a solution. NOT to determine who created the issue in the first place. They already know they did it, and they already feel bad.

[JohnBoucher]

Join NEMO

NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) is a support group and information exchange for those adult non-engineering mentors who help teams as part of the FIRST robotics programs

[xitaqua]

Hello All,

Here is the situation how I understand : A student that has not been part of the team last year is the leader and wants some guidance of how to lead.

I think this is a good question, it brings back to the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg.

The first first question in my mind, is how this individual came to become a leader ? Appointed by the Coach ? Voting by Majority ? Volunteered ?

I think once we understand the context...we might be able to give better guidance. But one thing I will say, expect a lot people to question your leadership and decisions, it comes with the territory, you can't make everybody happy.....just remember why you are a leader.


In the meantime, here is one tip I try to follow that I learned from Dale Carnegie Carnegie Golden Book that a co-worker of mine gave to me :

Don't complain, criticize or condemn others.


Cheers,
Marcos.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by xitaqua

But one thing I will say, expect a lot people to question your leadership and decisions, it comes with the territory, you can't make everybody happy.....just remember why you are a leader.

Not the way I lead. People listen, they will make comments, but once I make a decision, it stays. Otherwise, I'm not really a leader, I'm just being a manager.

[xitaqua]

Hello Molten,

I agree there is a difference between managers and leaders.

But I think in the context of someone that is "new" to leadership and also that has not been part of the team, the leadership style would need to be different from that of someone that has led before.

To be a leader you need to build a relationship, and in 6 weeks for someone that is new to it, I think it is a pretty tall order.


Cheers,
Marcos.

[Molten]

I think that is kind of like learning to swim. Some people like to be held up while they learn. Others are better off being thrown in.

I was thrown in for leading. I was the head engineer my first year on the team. I was confident about everything I did and everyone followed. This is the only way I have ever led or know to lead. I'm not saying this is the only way to lead. I'm just saying it is a good way to lead. Really, everyone has their own style and needs to use it to their fullest.

PS: Never could swim. Unfortunately nobody threw me in the pool as a kid.

[GillSt.Bernards]

Originally Posted by xitaqua

Hello All,

Here is the situation how I understand : A student that has not been part of the team last year is the leader and wants some guidance of how to lead.

I think this is a good question, it brings back to the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg.

The first first question in my mind, is how this individual came to become a leader ? Appointed by the Coach ? Voting by Majority ? Volunteered ?

I think once we understand the context...we might be able to give better guidance. But one thing I will say, expect a lot people to question your leadership and decisions, it comes with the territory, you can't make everybody happy.....just remember why you are a leader.


In the meantime, here is one tip I try to follow that I learned from Dale Carnegie Carnegie Golden Book that a co-worker of mine gave to me :

Don't complain, criticize or condemn others.


Cheers,
Marcos.

See a little more about me. I was on the team last year and I am the only returning person. The rest quit not wanting anypart of the team