The Essence Of TeamA big part of team development is working to become a cohesive unit that works well and has the potential to earn the respect of the competition. First, a team needs to look and act like a team. Acting like a team is not as easy as it sounds. At first this will be difficult, but as members grow used to working together, they will develop a rhythm in their work processes and interaction. The first step toward developing a rhythm is developing standard work practices at the racetrack. Everybody has a job and a list of activities that become SOP (standard operating procedure) when you arrive at a track.
There are tools and spares to be unloaded. The car needs to be fueled, the tires checked for stagger and air pressure. Do you have tires you use for practice? Are they on the car? Is the baseline setup documented? All of these tasks need to be accomplished by a team member.
A good way to establish standard work is to develop a list of activities that need to be done at various times over the course of the race. Post the list in a conspicuous place like the side of the toolbox or the pit box. List the activities or tasks in the order you want them accomplished. The team member who accomplished the task can sign the list showing that particular activity has been completed. This is not done to track the activity to a particular member but to let the team know that task is complete and they can do the next task on the list. This is a very good way to make sure that each job is done and no team member is standing around waiting to be told what to do next. It is an efficient method to get multiple tasks accomplished in a very short order. It will also give the team some variety in what they do at the track each raceday. The list will take some time to develop, but it will become a living document and change as your team matures.
Standard work also helps to make sure that each job is completed correctly even if different team members are doing the jobs. The old adage that "it does not matter how the job is done as long as it gets done" is about as far from the truth as it can be. Part of developing standard work is developing a standard methodology of accomplishing the work that needs to be done.
A good example of standard work is torquing the wheels on the car. There is a right way and a wrong way to mount wheels. It may make sense to use a torque wrench that is only used for that purpose with the extension and socket already mounted and ready to use.
The point is that the team defines the methodology you will be using for accomplishing a given task. What matters is the process should be the same no matter who is doing that task.
Act Like a TeamActing like a team is all about supporting each other and working as a cohesive unit. I am not suggesting you spend an inordinate amount of time in group hugs, but you should get along and there should be a reasonable level of camaraderie within the team. If you have team members who do not get along, either resolve any differences on a civil level or make a change. Racing is supposed to be fun and if you have team members who do not get along, it is no fun for other members on the team.
Look and Work Like a TeamLooking like a team is not always about dressing the same. But creating a visual presence at the track can be a very powerful tool. The use of a uniform can give your team a great deal of impact to fans and potential sponsors.
Clothing aside, the way team members act toward each other is a telling message about a team and will have an impact on the performance of the car.