tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466608.post4334005320080021345..comments2007-08-22T21:41:01.194+10:00Ted Hardynoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466608.post-17790649761136352112007-08-22T21:41:00.000+10:002007-08-22T21:41:00.000+10:00Thanks for the comment Pawell. I know we disagree on some aspects of managing teams and it's good to be reminded of alternative experiences and points of view.<BR/><BR/>I guess this is a sitational case, however I do think sharing the leadership role is a good idea for most teams.<BR/><BR/>I agree that not everyone is equally capable, but it can be an opportunity to develop staff. As the project leader part of the role should be to develop the staff.<BR/><BR/>Besides, I honestly have to defer to others all the time. I lead a team of experts in their area and while I think I know how things shuld be done I usually defer to the other person, both as a matter of pragmatically sharing the work and in getting out of their way while they do their thing.<BR/><BR/>It does require having a team who is at least basically competent, and acknowledging that there will be aspects of the work that are imperfect. I usually work in large corporations who can accomodate both of these aspects.<BR/><BR/>Anyone else got an opinion?Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04913411035783086223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466608.post-91640299817801325772007-08-21T23:58:00.000+10:002007-08-21T23:58:00.000+10:00There's one thing I do not agree with. Yes, it would be nice if every member of the team was able to take the leader role whenever it their "turn" but reality isn't so nice. Quite often I work in environments where developers formally fulfilling the "lead development" role are far from what you expect to be the project leadership. The same situation happens with support engineers.<BR/><BR/>I think it is so, because leadership isn't on the list of must-haves when you recruit developers or support engineers or even business analysts. Yes, it is very nice when you get in the set, but, be honest, you rarely have two candidates "being equal on everything else."<BR/><BR/>That's why it is PM who usually leads the project for most of the time. It's more likely when she knows technical background of whatever is being done and can discuss e.g. technical details with developers. I don't say that's the perfect situation, but that's the reality.<BR/><BR/>I'd be very pleased if I worked in the team where there's too much leadership skills spread all over the people, but I'm yet to see that kind of team.Pawel Brodzinskihttp://bog.brodzinski.comnoreply@blogger.com