15.3 Leading design teams

Question 1

What are some behaviors and characteristics of effective leaders?

Answer 1

List of the behaviors and characteristics of effective leaders:

• open to other viewpoints
• dedicated to the team’s success
• respectful of others
• decisive, but only after considering all points of view
• willing to do their share of the work
• knowledgeable about the team’s subject

Question 2

What are some behaviors and characteristics of ineffective leaders?

Answer 2

List of the behaviors and characteristics of ineffective leaders:

• being closed-minded
• bullying
• expecting others to do more than the leader is doing
• exhibiting interest only in their own field or topics
• not being respectful of others

Question 3

What is one approach that some engineering managers and educators have found useful?

Answer 3

One approach that some engineering managers and educators have found useful is to focus on four behaviors that are critical to team success: communication, decision making, collaboration, and self-management.