Decisions by committee...UUGGGHHHH

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I am having a problem transitioning into my new position. I came in as the manager of the web development team and my team seems a bit too empowered to do their own things. I feel like any executive decision I make regarding the web is not supported. I have tried and tried to relay my message and vision but it appears that each one has their own. I am getting push back on ideas and decisions I make. Consider that they are teenagers. Do I make decisions and enforce them regardless. I have been trying to include them all in all the decisions. Maybe I have been doing it too much? They are so use to doing things the way they have always done things.

-- KEVIN (kevin.hogan@teenmania.org), November 17, 2000

Answers

Kevin this is teenmania.org you are talking about. What is the most important value at teenmania.org?

Now, from where I sit IMHO is that if you firmly believe that God meant you to do this work, tell them. If you don't believe that God meant you to do this work, I don't think there is fat chance that any of them will either. You work in an interesting environment, so my view is, be interesting.

Judging by the information on the website, it seems to be attracting the people it wants to attract and it is doing quite well. This is a case where either you fit the team or you don't.

Look at World Vision as an example of a successful organization, would you expect such an organization to hire a believer in Christ or a believer in web-development?

That's my 2 cents worth and some food for thought.

-- Mark Zorro (zorromark@consultant.com), November 17, 2000.


Teenagers are always lookng for a hero (or anti-hero). Regardless, they want someone that they say they want to be or emulate. Find out from them their goals. Why don't they foolow what you say? Or at least let you put in a word or two?

Is it because they see you as too much of an authoratitive figure? Being teenagers, any reason is good reason for a rebellion. When they group together, find out what their aim is? The purpose. And see if you fit anywhere within their aim. If you do, re-invent yourself as being the champion of that aim. You'll get your point across easier that way.

Another way would be to sift out who are the leaders among the group - the ones that gets their voices heard almost everytime. Create a situation where this *leader* is given the opportunity to lead the pack towards a real goal. Pick him out and make him the driver of a goal you are trying to achieve. That way, you identify who has leadership abilities and you'll be able to get these * leaders* to understand your predicament.

-- Noor Ashikin Aziz (noor.ashikinaziz@iconmedialab.com.sg), November 23, 2000.


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