Effective Team Communication

Experts:Andy Baker, FRC Team 3940

Mike Corsetto, FRC Team 1678

Hosted By:GameSense

Effective Communication• Team Building• Communication Expectations• Conflict Management• Effective Drive Coach Communication

Team Building: Goals• Get to know each other

– Set aside Team Building activities can sometimes be the only way to get to know each other

– Team meetings can often be too busy otherwise

• Learn to work together– Depending on the activity, Team Building can also be geared towards learning to

work together– Discover teammates personality types and communications styles

• Develop a sense of belonging– Recognized or not, everyone has an innate desire to belong– To know and be known is powerful– Passion, dedication and productivity follow belonging

Team Building: Best Practices

• Prepare an Activity• Define team roles

– Both student and mentor– Make sure everyone understands what is

expected during Build Season

Communication Expectations

• Purpose: foundation for everything– Recruiting, design, finances,

sponsorships, awards, negotiations, etc.

Determining Expectations: Best Practices

• Set Team Goals– Depend on them to help guide your team– Set competition goals and use them to focus

team efforts

• Have a Team Contract– For students and mentors

Communications Methods: Written

• Online (emails, social media, web presence, discussion board participation)

• Letters• Press Releases• Presentation Materials

Communications Methods: Verbal

• Meeting leadership• Making presentations• Learning and mastering interview skills• Negotiating with other teams• “Selling” team to others

Communications Methods: Non-Verbal

• Body Position• Facial Expressions• Focus• Listening Ability

Communication Tools

• Email Distribution List• Group Texts• Team Website• Social Media

– Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Best Practices: Team Meetings

• Hold weekly team meetings, some host throughout the year

• Empower students to run meetings• Create agenda in advance• Send reminders for key meetings

Communication at Build Season

• Have daily quick build review • Use a common white board to allocate design

topics:– Motor– Put-Asides– Overall Concept– Sub-Team Goals– Timelines or Gantt Charts

Conflict Management

• Every team will have “RoboDrama”– Be prepared!

• Key Tools for Conflicts:– Well-defined team leadership and roles– Clear, accepted team goals– Open channels of communication for

students, mentors, parents

Mentors and Conflict

• Train mentors:– Accept diversity and differing opinions– Watch for early signs of conflict– Step in and assist difficult situations quickly– Do not put yourself in compromising positions

• Have mentor meetings• Recruit diverse mentors

Working with Parents

• Make team rules clear• Give clear expectations regarding

fundraising and team finances• Make a clear and precise schedule• Assign support tasks

Best Practices to Avoid Conflict

• Provide equal opportunities to students– Recruit students that reflect the demographics

in your school or area– Watch for any prejudices and correct bad

behavior– Create environment for students of different

backgrounds to build a relationship

Best Practices to Avoid Conflict

• Have clear processes to determine how students get select roles– Application process for roles (driver, operator,

pit boss, etc.)– Voting for leadership positions (president,

lead mechanic, etc.)– Entry and exit interviews

Best Practices to Avoid Conflict

• Have clear expectations regarding Team Confidentiality– Design– Game Play– Team Issues

• Don’t air your team’s dirty laundry!

• Don’t encourage or listen to rumors or hearsay

If Conflict Occurs…

• Involve team leadership immediately• Interview (isolate) involved parties• Determine short term solution that will not

negatively impact the team• Inform parents and school administration• Determine a long-term solution

Leadership Roles & Conflict

• Make unified decisions– Follow team and school/organization rules

• Be clear in communicating decisions– To involved parties– To team (when appropriate)

Conflict with Other Teams

• Outside an Event:– Contact FIRST Regional Director or District

Leadership– Clearly define the issue– Be willing to discuss the issue with other team– Move on and forgive

Conflict with Other Teams

• At an Event:– Contact key volunteers and event leaders– Protect teammates, but expect them to be

accountable– Don’t let this distract team from goals– Move on and forgive

Drive Coach Communication

• Goal:– Develop and execute an effective match

strategy both on and off the field

Before an Event

• Good communication starts in the shop– Start Drive Team in the fall, or by the second

week of Build Season at the latest– Learn to work together on projects– Time spent working as a team helps members

to understand each other’s communication style

Practice! Practice! Practice!

• It’s not just learning how to drive the robot• Practice before Stop Build Day to test

strategies• Ultimate Goal: Drive Team Cruise Control

Coach Responsibilities at Practice

• Establish strategy for team to practice and how it will be done

• Stand behind Drivers and guide them through strategy

• Debrief with Drive Team after each round

Pre-Event Preparation

• Watch broadcasts of other events with (at least) your Drive Team

• Find a robot with similar design, evaluate strategy for qualification and elimination rounds

• Develop Drive Team terminology to describe certain strategies you expect to use

At Events

• Develop relationships with other teams– Learn names

• Ask questions about their robot• Watch them on the practice field

Pre-Match Preparation

• Develop “in-house” strategy– Select a strategy that is the best fit for the match– Process is easier the more you practice (remember:

auto pilot!)– Use data from Scout Team

• Have method of communication in place before event

– Discuss the strategy you expect from the opposing alliance

Working with Alliances

• Hardest part of coaching: Alliance Strategy Discussion

• Key: Be Cooperative

Selecting Alliance Strategy

1. Ask what alliance teams want to do

2. Assess how their goals work with your “in-house” strategy

3. Present your strategy– Highlight how it incorporates each team’s goals and how it will win the

match

4. Allow strategy to take place with input from each team

5. Discuss until are parties are comfortable with strategy

6. Do a “once over” of strategy and confirm

7. Shake hands and with teams Good Luck

What NOT To Do

• Do NOT dominate the discussion• Do NOT lie about your robot’s capabilities• Do NOT belittle other teams

– Even when you think your robot is better

• Do NOT break the rules- or the robots

Drive Coach Best Practices

• Right Before Match:– Communicate strategy with Drive Team– Review quickly with alliance members in

queue line

During the Match

• Stay Calm– Calm does not mean passive– Stay in control of your words and actions

• Watch the Field– Drivers are focused on robot– Have their next move ready when they finish a task

• Watch the Clock– Critical role for coach– Execute key strategy at appropriate times

During the Match

• Communicate with Drivers– Method will vary based on Driver skill and game mechanics– Speak clearly and be intentional with words– Gets better with practice

• Communicate with Other Teams– Work out cues before match– Verbal reminders are appropriate– If needed, explain mid-match strategy changes to other coaches

After the Match

• Thank & Congratulate EVERYONE– Handshakes and High-fives all around– Thank teammates and opponents

• Debrief with Drive Team– What went wrong?– What went right?– How can we improve for next match?

Effective Team Communication

QUESTIONS?