GPzMike Abroad

Been sick for a few days with cold/flu like symptoms. Not a very happy camper, but think I'm pulling thru it. Heading out tomorrow.

We are trying to slow down the school build program a bit so we can change the program. We are not starting a school 10 until we complete 7-8-9, which are all in various stages of completion. The decision was made while I was gone to go away from roving teams with specific duties (foundation, framing, rendering, roofing, paint, etc) to creating a team that works a school from beginning to end. I'm not sure that's going to be the best solution - nor am I sure, now that I think on it, what problem this new method is trying to address.

I think a hybrid of the two concepts is likely the best: a 'boss' that stays on a specific school and is in charge of that school until it's completion with roving teams. In this way they would get continuity in the job, quality assurance and accountability via the 'boss' and still have experienced people on each phase. I'd rather a volunteer commit to a specific phase and get a depth of experience in that phase than get a small taste of many phases and never get anywhere near proficient in any of them. Training volunteers again and again sucks a great amount of time from building a school efficiently.

Perhaps, though, this would not be as attractive to the volunteers? Would they rather get a smattering of experience? Likely. But: are they here to help or to 'get experience'? No matter what, they are not going become actually proficient at any of the phases unless they are here for months and months...and even then they would only be neophytes back in the business world.

I suppose on yet further thought I could set my team up to be phase specific. I will have a few volunteers that I use as right hand's. I train them to be good in all things, but task each of them with excelling/stepping into leadership roles for each of the phases. Each have their time to shine and be a leader which in the end strengthens and deepens our team.

I think that requires some more thinking, but I don't at the moment see any glaring problems with this concept. It will take careful training on my part at first so as to cultivate the guys and gals...and it will push me to take a back seat and allow them to learn, make mistakes, etc...not something I'm terribly good at doing but something I NEED to learn to do regardless.