“ A positive culture is the holy grail of many FRC teams. Here are four crucial steps towards creating a good working environment for your team. 1). Develop a sense of history History is important to people, giving them a sense of identity and...

A positive culture is the holy grail of many FRC teams. Here are four crucial steps towards creating a good working environment for your team.

 

1). Develop a sense of history



History is important to people, giving them a sense of identity and belonging. Tell stories about the history of your team to your new members – that funny time when nothing seemed to work because of a typo in the code, or the match where your robot drove up the wall. Connect the best of the past to the present and in doing, so create the future.


2). Create a sense of one-ness



Leaders who bring people together talk about ‘us’ more than 'I’. They propagate the stories of history and present stories that create a sense of togetherness. They also create objectives for the team that ensure that team members have to work together.


3). Promote a sense of membership



Belonging also comes from the benefits that people gain, so work on the reward and recognition system. More than anything else, the most important process in an organization is selection. Creating a meritocracy means this is done fairly, with a focus on the best person for the job rather than on favoritism.

When people join, have a very deliberate process of socialization, where they learn the culture and the present organization. Having past team members and leaders present to the new recruits sends a very powerful message. Likewise in training and throughout the Build Season, a consistent promotion of the culture through all things sustains the message and the meaning.

4). Increase contact and exchange



Help people stay in touch with one another. Work to create inter-group cooperation and collaboration. Have subteam-exchange programs and move people sideways so they spread ideas and get to understand the bigger picture.


So what?



If you want the culture to be supportive and cohesive, then it does not happen by wishing it to be so. You have to take deliberate action that may even have doubtful benefits in the short term, although the longer-term benefits will far outweigh this early effort.

~ Girls of Steel, FIRST Team #3504.