Holding your first team meeting Managing large tasks Leadership tips
Once you have a few loyal volunteers recruited, it's time to get down to work. A first meeting sets the tone for your entire project, so try to be professional, organized and energetic. But don't forget about the fun! Remind your team of the joys of play and they'll carry that energy back to the community. It's always important to establish a clear objective and an agenda for each meeting. Show up on time, be prepared and set time limits for each item; everyone appreciates a productive meeting, and your team members will be more likely to show up next time! Here are some topics that you might want to address at your first construction team meeting:
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These five checklists are designed to break your planning tasks into manageable chunks. Look these over now to see what lies ahead, and use them as a guide to create more specific checklists for the members of your team. Download a printable version of this checklist.
As a project leader, you simply can't do everything alone. That's why you have team members! A large part of your job will be to motivate, instruct, advise and help others as they implement your plan. Remember that delegating responsibility usually enhances a project, because jobs get done by people who have a special skill in that area. It also helps everyone practice their management skills and get more out of the project. This, in turn, will improve accountability and make for a truly "community-built" playspace. But that's not all! Being a leader also means keeping meetings on track and managing time wisely. Hone your team captain skills with these simple tips:
Delegate complete jobs rather than portioning out small tasks. Team members aren't there to do your "busy work"! If you put your trust in them, they'll rise to the occasion and give you a more creative, thoughtful response.
Clarify the job before delegating. Make very clear your expectations, the job's priority, the deadline, who can help them, and how this task fits into the big picture.
Give help when requested. And not before then! It's important to step back, resist the urge to micromanage, and let your team members do their work. (But be there in a pinch.)
Listen. Repeat what you've heard to make sure you understood. Pay attention to nonverbal behavior (gestures, posture, tone of voice). Put yourself in their shoes.
Take notes. At every meeting, it's important to record what was accomplished, what new goals or deadlines were set, and who said what.
Agree upon meeting procedures. Who will speak and in what order? What topics will be discussed? Having fair and consistent procedures will keep people focused during lengthy meetings.
Set time limits. Meetings tend to go on until someone stops them. Let people know how much time they have to speak, and stick to it.