TOP TEN RULES ON RUNNING A TEAM

10. RUN IT AS A COMPANY  MEET YOUR NEW PART TIME EMPLOYEES.  MANAGE IT AS A COMPANY.

9. ORGANIZE MANAGEMENT TEAMS  MAJOR COMMITTEES:  FINANCE  DESIGN  BUILDING  PROMOTION  AWARDS  STEERING

8. FUNDRAISING  DEVELOP STRATAGIES.  DEVELOP ACTIVITIES.  DETERMINE HOW THE FUNDS ARE TO BE DIVIDED.  KEEP RECORDS,  REALLY!

7. MENTOR  MENTOR AND TEACH.  SHOW HOW-TO AND NOT DO IT.  REMEMBER, PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE!  EVERYBODY MUST CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM’S SUCCESS.

6. HAVE A LAWYER/MANAGER  ASSIGN A MANAGER TO KEEP TRACK OF IMPORTANT DUE DATES.  ASSIGN A “LAWYER” TO MAKE SURE YOUR ROBOT IS LEGAL.  HAVE EVERYBODY KNOW ALL THE RULES.  REMEMBER THE SHIP DATE AND SHIPPING RULES.

5. DEVELOP A SCHEDULE  WEEK ONE: ROLLING BASE  WEEK FIVE: DEBUGGING  WEEK SIX: PRACTICE (yeah, right!)

4. DEAL WITH PROBLEMS  AS ADVISOR, YOU’RE THE CEO.  AS ADVISOR, YOU’RE THE GO-TO GUY.  DEAL WITH PEOPLE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY.  DEAL WITH DESIGN ISSUES.  DEAL WITH FUNDING ISSUES.

3. DEVELOP PHILOSOPHY  DEVELOP A TEAM PHILOSOPHY.  CREATE A HANDBOOK.  MAKE YOU POLICIES FAIR AND CLEAR.  REMEMBER “GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM”. IT REALLY WORKS.  EVERYBODY MUST CONTRIBUTE.  REMEMBER THE FIRST PHILOSOPHY.

2. GO LOCO  GO TO LOCALS.  ONE DAY FUN EVENTS.  TRAIN YOUR TEAM.  MEET OTHERS IN YOUR AREA.  DID YOU REALLY BUILD YOUR ‘BOT FOR ONLY ONE REGIONAL?

1. HAVE FUN  RELAX.  HAVE FUN.  TAKE CLEANSING BREATHS AND REMEMBER:  YOU’RE DOING THIS FOR YOUR STUDENTS.