Why should I volunteer as a Team Manager?
Bedford DI cannot exist without parents stepping up to volunteer as Team Manager. We can only open as many teams as we have Team Managers. Team Manager is a vital and rewarding role!
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Team Managers typically dedicate around 1 to 2 hours per week in between meeting times. You are encouraged to rely on your team parents and delegate tasks to make the experience manageable and fun.
New team managers spend some time up front learning about DI and its rules and understanding the team’s Central Challenge. New managers also often find it helpful to attend training sessions.
In the beginning of the season, managers may spend 30-60 minutes preparing for each meeting. This may include selecting getting-to-know-you games and planning activities that teach children skills that they may find helpful in solving their challenge.
As the team starts working on their solution, the managers may find that they do not need to prepare as much for meetings, other than ensuring the children have the materials they need.
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A team manager is NOT directing the team or telling them what to do! The kids are in charge of their challenge solution from Day 1, but here are the ways the Team Manager helps them succeed:
Facilitator
Manage the team calendar, meeting space, meeting agendas, presentation plans, and celebrations
Help the team understand their challenge, manage their project goals and stick to their timeline
Keep the team focused on their goals and help them move forward with their solution at each team meeting
Communicate regularly with parents and guardians
Assist the students in obtaining the materials they need for their challenge solution
Keep team conflict constructive and respectful
Interference Deflector
Ensure that the team’s solution to the Challenge is team-directed and team-developed
Encourage team members to advocate for their own work and ideas
Help the team understand the Challenge and where they can learn the skills they need to execute their solution
Chief Safety Officer
Safeguard team members: help the team understand personal safety, safe tool use and safety guidelines, constructive conflict rules, and behavior guidelines
Guide the team to set reasonable team rules and expectations
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Plan and arrange a time and place for a meeting (most teams have a recurring meeting time)
Selecting and prepare Instant Challenges (ICs) or other group activities
Document the group’s progress and help them assign work to be completed between meetings
These tasks can easily be shared — some teams have a non-managing parent acting as a scheduler or a corresponding secretary documenting the group’s progress.
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We promise you the answer is YES! The skills of Team Management are the skills of daily life. If you have ever submitted a work project on time, you can do this. If you’ve ever researched and planned a vacation, you can do this. If you’ve ever repaired or replaced an object in your home, you can do this. If you’ve ever helped bickering siblings figure out what movie to watch or what to order for takeout, you can DEFINITELY do this!
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DI provides lots of training and support: professionally developed curricula, free online and in-person workshops, and a great network of folks right in Bedford. You will be connected to veteran TM mentors and, often, to high school student helpers. Our town’s DI culture is collaborative and supportive. Help is always a text message away!
