1. Team Leader Training Assigning Projects
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2. Assigning Projects
The current research package includes several projects, but it seems like everyone wants to work on the same one. It is an interesting research question that will allow them to work with high-level military sponsors and should provide a good amount of visibility for their work. Another project, although worthwhile, is fairly routine and not viewed as much fun. You need to determine how to choose who gets the plum assignment and who gets the less desirable one. At the same time, you need to figure out how to motivate subordinates to work on the one that isn’t as fun.

3. Question & Answer Session
Q1. What do you think of the following approaches? A) Appeal to their sense of duty. B) Provide some type of special incentive (e.g., priority to most desirable TDY location) C) Don’t worry about it…that’s why they get paid. D) Explain that the best performers are rewarded with the best projects.

4. Question & Answer Session
Q2. How important is it that your team does not view you as a TL who plays favorites?

5. Lessons Learned, Slide 1 of 2
Team Leaders should make the assignments based on skill set and other factors. It’s not a matter of consensus or a vote. You want to distribute the workload as fairly as possible, but you also want to achieve the best results. It’s possible that your most reliable researchers will consistently get better and more assignments. Try to honestly assess if you are making your decisions based on relevant characteristics of the researchers and the projects and not letting irrelevant personal factors influence you. Be alert to opportunities to develop researchers who currently are unlikely to receive high visibility or challenging assignments. Use a collaborative approach when possible. This will give subordinates some leadership opportunities within a narrow lane and give less experienced researchers an opportunity to work multiple projects and thus broaden their experience base at a faster pace.

6. Lessons Learned, Slide 2 of 2
Keep the playing field level. Everyone should have a chance to do some of the boring work because it has to be done.
Themes
Developing Subordinates; Planning and Organizing