Team-building

I am one of the captains of an ultimate team. 95% of the time, this is a fun thing to do. The 5% that isn't usually involves organizational garbage that I don't mind all that much. But, some of the time, there are actually unpleasant bits associated with being a team leader.

If your team is doing well, it's not hard to be a leader. Even when it isn't doing all that well, team members are usually willing to make adjustments in order to succeed. That's a long-winded way of saying that people usually stay interested in the team's welfare. Of course, not everyone is motivated the same way or for the same reasons. That's one of the unique challenges of being a leader: finding a way to fire up each individual on your team. Sometimes anger works; sometimes being a cheerleader works; sometimes being analytical works. It really depends on the situation. For my part, I'm not usually lacking for ideas of how to change things. Yay for me! Or something...

Recently, for the first time since I've been a captain (dating back to punk intramural teams during my undergrad), I ran out of leader-mojo (can I trademark that term?). We had a particularly bad showing at a tournament where it seemed like no matter what we tried, we still stunk. I went through my entire "toolbox" of ultimate tricks, team strategies, and motivational speeches trying to make a difference. In the end, I had to throw my arms in the air and say, "screw it!".

I'd be content to let it roll off of my back and move on except for the fact that this poor tournament showing seems to have affected the team's morale to a point where people are on the verge of quitting or simply losing interest. There's a generally negative attitude about the team, even as we begin to put things back together at practices and subsequent tournaments. Obviously, I'm not serving my teammates well if I cannot motivate them to play as well as possible. Also, on a personal level, I'm not a big fan of leading a bunch of cynical, disillusioned players; I play to have fun, after all, and that's not my idea of a good time.

So where to go from here? I've started with my own attitude. There's no time like the present to remind myself to stay upbeat and enjoy the playing itself. In short, focus on process over results. Or, even more simply, "have fun."

That's a good start, but I'm still kind of lost on how to regain my team's interest. Short of winning more games (which attracts everyone), it's not clear to me how to rebuild a team's confidence in itself. Any ideas? Only three weeks 'til sectionals...

Phew!

It's always a relief on that one weeknight per week when I get home and don't have to go back to the lab. Though I often come home for dinner and go back, the times when I simply come home and stay feel that much different: almost like I have a regular schedule or something. Right...sure, whatever you say, Pascal. Now back to reality.

Work has been at its best this week, I think. Maybe not in its excitement or in obtaining results, but in the variety of things I've done. Work passes more quickly, and I learn more, when there are many different things to be done in order to make progress. It's easier to motivate myself when I'm not repeating the same thing over and over. Stuff did break this week (what week doesn't have that?), but fixing it was a good experience. Maybe I'll even be faster at it the next time.

With all this fixing, I think we might be close to doing actual science tomorrow. Wow, imagine that!

Jumping sideways

As jarring as traveling to another country can be, the return to one's home thereafter is even more severe. The rude familiarity and the sudden view from without can make homecoming a difficult task indeed. Because vacations are inherently not permanent changes, I view them as jumping away from my routine, but not forward: only sideways. The forward jumps occur by making permanent changes.

That said, sideways can be good; very good. For example:


I've come back refreshed and a little less jaded with my work. The only question is whether it will carry me through to my next lateral movement.