Comments on: Mentoring, as Team Leader http://blog.gdinwiddie.com/2007/02/11/mentoring-as-team-leader/ Effective software development Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:25:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.6 by: J. B. Rainsberger http://blog.gdinwiddie.com/2007/02/11/mentoring-as-team-leader/#comment-104 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 23:19:07 +0000 http://blog.gdinwiddie.com/2007/02/11/mentoring-as-team-leader/#comment-104 My comments are here: http://www.jbrains.ca/postings/read/81 My comments are here: http://www.jbrains.ca/postings/read/81

]]> by: Merlyn Albery-Speyer http://blog.gdinwiddie.com/2007/02/11/mentoring-as-team-leader/#comment-99 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 18:39:42 +0000 http://blog.gdinwiddie.com/2007/02/11/mentoring-as-team-leader/#comment-99 I find a great way to help build a feeling of trust is to openly admit to the things you don't know or don't know well. A team leader that feels secure enough in their abilities could start doing this straight away. There are also ways to help people learn that aren't "inflicting help" - but it can be a fine line. Something that's worked well for me is to suggest to all members of the team that they take an hour or so out of their week to learn about something and, optionally, present it briefly to the rest. Even if no-one presents anything you still send the message that it's a good thing to learn and that they're allowed to take the time to do so. I find a great way to help build a feeling of trust is to openly admit to the things you don’t know or don’t know well. A team leader that feels secure enough in their abilities could start doing this straight away.

There are also ways to help people learn that aren’t “inflicting help” - but it can be a fine line.

Something that’s worked well for me is to suggest to all members of the team that they take an hour or so out of their week to learn about something and, optionally, present it briefly to the rest. Even if no-one presents anything you still send the message that it’s a good thing to learn and that they’re allowed to take the time to do so.

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