Team Leadership
In order to motivate groups to take ownership, be creative and produce their best work, we must align individuals into a team vision [1].
In concrete actions
- In a stand-up meeting every morning [2]:
- What did you do yesterday?
- What will you do today?
- Are there any impediments in your way?
- In an email every few days:
- What tasks currently exist? Who is doing what?
- Show the fundamental directions the group is moving and give everybody a chance for input on this.
- Encouragement and celebration of group effort.
- Make it easy for developers to brainstorm easily (for example, an IRC server). Whatever solution is arrived at, make sure it is obvious.
These abstract directions should also be pursued
- Pave their path to self-actualization.
- Give credit: attribute correctly.
- Celebrate Team Effort: place names of people together for group cohesion.
- In cases of low motivation, use peer pressure: give a developer an ultra-visible high priority; something all know is a home run. Email stakeholders and CC the developer explaining to everybody that this is their number one priority.
