Team Leader Training Dan’s Twin Brother Cam Normal slide navigation has been disabled in order to ensure this training works properly. Macros must be enabled to complete training.

Dan’s Twin Brother Cam Cam is a new Team Leader who agrees to take on new work too quickly, relying solely on his psychology background without realizing he needs to understand the pragmatics of what it would take to investigate the issue within the military environment. Cam usually 'gets it' initially but subsequently becomes enamored with a special element of the problem of personal interest to him and loses sight of the "whole" as he delegates.

Q1. How does a new Team Leader avoid falling into one of these traps? Question & Answer Session Q1. How does a new Team Leader avoid falling into one of these traps?

Question & Answer Session Q2. What do wannabe Team Leaders do to develop good habits when interacting with leadership/supervisors to ensure they fully understand the vision/requirement?

Lessons Learned, Slide 1 of 3 As a new Team Leader, Cam needs to work on active listening to ensure he understands not only what needs to be done, but why. He should establish clear agreement on the goal of his research with his chief, with sponsors, and with contractors – and then work backward from that goal to identify the necessary steps on a doable timeline. He needs to ask targeted questions that enable him to develop a shared mental model with his unit chief as to how work gets prioritized.

Lessons Learned, Slide 2 of 3 As Team Leader, Cam must be prepared to look at research from a broad perspective, maintaining a vision over all aspects of the research activities. This includes visualizing the research progression to a point where it achieves its goal and can make an impact. This requires an understanding of the Army and what it means to do research in a military environment – an area where Cam seems to be deficient. He should actively work to build this knowledge. This can be accomplished in part by seeking and seizing opportunities to interact with Soldiers. Doing so can enhance his understanding of the Army, broaden his perspective and vision, and inform his research. It can also help him expand his professional network, which can be strategically mobilized throughout his career to help him solve problems of importance to ARI and the Army. Cam needs to make sure he reads major Army documents with the same diligence that he reads the psychology literature.

Lessons Learned, Slide 3 of 3 Develop a shared understanding with key stakeholders regarding the overarching goal and purpose of your research. Recognize the constraints, opportunities, and pragmatics of doing research within the Army. Develop knowledge of the military environment in which your research is planned, executed, and utilized. Stay focused on mission priorities. If you are a researcher whose Team Leader acts a lot like Cam, manage your boss. If your Team Leader tends to fall into patterns of behavior that are not strictly on mission, use your Question and Answer time in team meetings to solidify actions that will keep you and the team on the best path for a successful mission. Themes ARI Knowledge; Breadth of Vision; Planning and Organizing