Leadership & Team BuildingGeorge Chen

FRC 294, 812 | SCRRF, TSD

Introductions•Name•Team•Position on team•Years in FIRST

•Things to cover• Personality types• Discussion/Crisis Management• Credibility• Professional relations• Team building and organization• Team handbooks• Publicity• Q&A

Leadership definedLeadership can be thought of as a capacity

to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future.

– Edwin H. Friedman

Personality Types• Passive (Fishes)• Aggressive (Sharks)• Assertive• Leading by example

Leading a discussion• Becoming the “center”• Being a moderator

Crisis Resolution• The best way to handle an uncontrollably

angry person is not to say "Calm down" or "Breathe" -- unless your aim is to fan the flames

• Let the person vent for a moment while you compose yourself. Then calmly say, "I can see you're upset. I'll listen to what you have to say, if you're willing to listen to what I have to say. Okay?"

Crisis Resolution (cont)• Follow that up with a question that leads

him out of the situation: "What do you say we resolve it this way?" By asking a question, you give him the illusion of being in control. If this approach fails, walk away.

Crisis Management• Keep cool under fire• Take care of people• Address the problem• Be clear and confident

Feedback• Constantly look for ways to improve• Accept constructive criticism, ignore

insults• Admit your mistakes

COACHing• Conviction Driven• Over-Learning• Audible-Ready• Consistency• Honesty based

Building Credibility• Why is it important?• Enabling people• Follow through

Professional Courtesy• Making connections

– School administration– Corporations– Local businesses

Styles

• Mimic the styles of those you wish to impress– Business suit: formal, business– Tshirt and jeans: casual

• Always be enthusiastic• Be prompt & responsive

Principles of a Handshake

• Not sweaty!• Firm, not crushing• Meet the other person's hand first• Eye contact!• Slight smile• Don't pump up and down like a water

pump

Exercise: Cold Torture?

• Concept: Get students to introduce themselves better, develop self confidence

• Means: It’s cold outside• Exercise: Pick a cold day, lock the

students out until they properly introduce themselves.

Exercise: Elevator Talk

• Concept: Limited amount of time to convey understandable information

• Means: How long it takes to go up an elevator

• Exercise: Explain FIRST in 10 seconds, speaking normally.

Exercise: Icebreakers• Concept: In 1-2 minutes, introduce

yourself, your team, and FIRST• Goal: Develop public speaking skills

Getting the most out of your team

• Find your strengths– Mechanical– Structural– Digital/graphical– Administration

Team Building

• Developing an effective hierarchy• Recruitment• Exercises

Committee System• Find motivated students to lead

subgroups• Don't stretch your resources too thin!

Hierarchy

Subteam 1 Subteam 2 Subteam 3

Student LeadPresident

Student Lead 2VP

Other mentors

Mentor LeadMentor

Team LeadTeacher

Hierarchy 2

Teacher LeadTeam Manager

Student LeadTeam Pres

ParentsSupport

Members

Subsys lead

Members

Subsys lead MentorsSupport

Mentors

• Do not let mentors get power-happy!• Mentors volunteer their time – don't try

controlling them (too much)

Team Building• Fundraising

– During off season– Take advantage of those casually interested

• Group outings– Laser tag– Challenge course– Bowling

Team building (On Season)

• Establish timelines• Identify tasks and assign duties• Regional activities

Exercise: Mock FIRST• Concept: Pick an old season to redo• Goal: Rookies learn skills• Use: Vex to build mock robots, practice

design, building, grant writing• Duration: 3 weeks (or longer)

Exercise: 64 Squares• Concept: Teams

must work together to make their way across a board

• Goal: Develop teamwork

• Duration: 20 min

Team Oversight• Governing board

– Finance– Team rules

• Composition– Teachers– Lead mentor(s)– Parent(s)– Student leaders

Team Handbooks• Contents

– Team History– Team Rules– Contract/Field trip forms– Safety guidelines

Team Handbooks• Be sure to revise yearly• Feel free to borrow from other teams

– CD White Papers– NEMO

Best Uses• Preparation for competition• Authoritative guide to behaviour• Positive reinforcement

Publicity• Team leader = team spokesperson• Find your speaking style• Learn to speak, not read• NEMO: Publicity FIRST

Exercise: Press Release• Format:

– Date– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE– Title– Location & Date– 3rd Person Statement– Contacts– Background Information

Example24 August 2006

Despite Planetary Downgrade, Pluto Is Still Disney’s ‘Dog Star’

BURBANK, CALIF (Thursday, August 24, 2006) – In reaction to news today that Pluto was demoted to the status of “dwarf planet,” the Seven Dwarfs issued their own short statement:

“Although we think it's DOPEY that Pluto has been downgraded to a dwarf planet, which has made some people GRUMPY and others just SLEEPY, we are not BASHFUL in saying we would be HAPPY if Disney's Pluto would join us as an 8th dwarf. We think this is just what the DOC ordered and is nothing to SNEEZE at.”

As Mickey Mouse’s faithful companion, Pluto made his debut in 1930 – the same year that scientists discovered what they believed was a ninth planet.

Said a white-gloved, yellow-shoed source close to Disney’s top dog, “I think the whole thing is goofy. Pluto has never been interested in astronomy before, other than maybe an occasional howl at the moon.”

Exercise: Improvisation• Press conference style• Answer each question in 1-2 minutes

Q&A• Resources:

– SCRRF– ChiefDelphi– NEMO

• Good luck!