LEADERSHIP

Crew Resource Management (CRM):

Based on human factors, CRM applies to every practice, event or match. If it's important, debrief to the CRM principles below.

• Planning: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail

  • Plan the event, match, practice, meeting, etc

  • Identify the threats that can derail the plan

  • Mitigate the threats with a Plan B (sometimes a Plan C, D, etc if it's critical)

• Decision Making: Fast decision with 80% certainty is better than a slow decision with 100%

  • Make decisions using data (CAD, math, prototyping, statistics, etc)

  • Never resort to voting -- use objective reasoning instead to achieve consensus

  • Use OODA Loop -- the fastest and most iterative OODA loop wins

    • Observe: Collect data

    • Orient: Turn data into useful information

    • Decide: Make decision based on info

    • Act: Act upon the decision

• Communicating: If you do something, say something

  • Ensure the team is aware of the plan and decision

  • The most critical part of CRM and often the one thing that could have prevented the failure

  • Use debriefs, engineering notebooks, business plans etc

• Workload Management: Distribute prioritized work for parallel operations

  • Spread the workload 

  • Prioritize importance

• Monitor: Know the plan and help ensure it's achieved

  • Be aware of goals of the team

  • Monitor progress towards the plan even if not the leader

6-Step Problem Solving Model

• STEP 1: DEFINE THE PROBLEM

  • Kidlin's Law: If you can write down the problem clearly, you're halfway to solving it

  • Clearly define the context of the problem

  • What is REQUIRED? What are the CONSTRAINTS?

  • What are the NEEDS or MUST DOs?

  • What are the WANTS or MAY DOs?

  • What are the AVOIDs or MUST NOT DOs?

  • Use brainstorming and data collection ("SHOW ME THE DATA")

  • Add amplifying support statements as needed

  • Establish goals if applicable

• STEP 2: ANALYZE THE PROBLEM

  • Conduct research

  • Steal from the best, then invent the rest

  • Understand not only what other teams have done, but why they did it that way

  • Collect more data

    • Take measurements, surveys, stats, etc

    • Use CAD sketches to explore

  • Understand the root cause to avoid finding solutions to symptoms only

    • Ask 5 WHYs: Ask why enough times and you will find the true root cause of the problem (link)

    • Use Pareto's 80/20 Principle: 80% of the problem comes from 20% of the causes (link)

    • Use Fishbone Cause/Effect Diagrams: Brainstorm man, method, machine, and material causes that lead to the problem or effect (link)

    • Revisit STEP 1 if needed to redefine the problem more clearly

• STEP 3: IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS

  • Generate solutions that address the root cause

  • Consider all options 

• STEP 4: CHOOSE SOLUTION

  • Establish a criteria for choosing a solution using tools such as:

    • Team Capabilities (Know Your Limits!)

    • Pros vs Cons Table

    • Risk vs Reward

    • Cost vs Benefit

    • Weighted matrix of priorities

    • Compare solutions against goals and objectives established in STEP 1

  • Evaluate then choose the most suitable solution

• STEP 5: PLAN OF ACTION

  • Develop an Action Plan

  • Follow RACI model:

    • Determine who is RESPONSIBLE (the Lead)

    • Determine who is ACCOUNTABLE (team member)

    • Determine who needs to be CONSULTED with

    • Determine who needs to be INFORMED (mentor)

  • Determine deadline for completion-

  • Include specific details of task to be accomplished

  • Should clearly answer all questions on what needs to be done

• STEP 6: IMPLEMENT

  • Track progress of action plan

  • Evaluate/test results

    • Show the data, images, videos

    • State the conclusion to the problem

    • Show results against goals and objectives in Step 1

  • Redefine Step 1 as needed

Leader-Follower Model:

• Match the Leadership Style (S1 - S4) to the Follower development level (D1 - D4)

• Directing (S1-D1):

  • Easiest to execute...tell them what to do

  • Have a detailed plan, assign simple tasks with timeframe and followup

• Coaching (S2-D2): 

  • Hardest to execute...requires investigative research

  • Engage and investigate what limits commitment

  • Have a detailed plan, assign simple tasks with timeframe and followup

  • Provide encouragement and incentive for completion

• Supporting (S3-D3):

  • Rewarding area of most team growth

  • Have a detailed plan, assign more complex tasks with timeframe

  • Provide resources and tear down obstacles so they can succeed

  • Listen to their plan and provide feedback

• Delegating (S4-D4):

  • Fire and forget

  • Communicate vision and goals

  • Assign areas of responsibilities with expectations and timeframe

  • Provide resources and tear down obstacles so they can succeed