I submitted this proposal to modify our labor structure to increase the level of responsibility for our mid-level workers' so that we can fill the leadership gap that exists between our senior level workers and our incoming freshman. In the past, our department would promote a few workers to the senior level based upon merit and we'd assign projects and tasks to our mid level workers that didn't really engage them. This created a retention gap and we lost a lot of experienced workers as a result. And we often found that our senior level workers struggled so much to find a balance learning how to juggle all of their new responsibilities that they often neglected our mid level workers and didn't have the social or leadership skills to connect with our freshman workers. The intent of the new structure is outlined within the proposal to address some of those issues now that we have a more experienced mid level staff who has enough proficiency to move on toward the senior level. The modifications were designed to overcome the group dysfunctions found in many organizations outline by Bruce Tuckman's model. The good news is that many of the ideas in this proposal were accepted and approved and we will be adopting most of the new student labor structure for the upcoming academic school year.

1. LABOR
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT
NEXT YEAR?

2. Notable Improvements:
Improved Morale – measurably less internal conflict between
students, most students get along with each other, hang out outside
of work, less complaints about Seabury overall.
Reduction of Absenteeism – the sub policy has helped, we don’t
have as many no shows or students behind on hours, students who
claimed to hate working here are now hanging out @work after
hours (e.g. Plagueman)
Reduction in Disciplinary Issues – excluding issues in the pool, we
have far less need for write ups for major offenses (e.g. time
falsification, insubordination, etc.)
Improved Consistency of Effort – the building is cleaner, our
students have been more involved in risk
management, memberships, confiscating expired cards, many repeat
monthly sales

3. Key Issues: (when managing
students)
Dominance –taking over conversations/ not being respectful of others
contributions
Lack of Participation – body language or activity communicates lack of
interest/ that someone is afraid to contribute
Too much seriousness – this person is all business (probably because they
have poorly managed time or social skills -- to the point where it hinders
the team dynamic of the group)
Flippancy – not serious enough -- to the point where it undermines
discipline & credibility or steals focus
Side conversations – includes cell phone usage
Emotional Outbursts – Drama Queens; drama follows them wherever they
go, or refers to those who constantly have something disruptive going on

4. When we tell people to change and they don’t…
It’s not because they don’t understand how
important it is to change,
Or even that they don’t understand HOW to
change,
but because management continues to reinforce
the same old habits.

5. The 5 Stages of Dysfunction

6. Overcoming the 5 Stages of Dysfunction through
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

7. What are some ways that we can reinforce the
behaviors we’d like to see when addressing these:
Dominance
Lack of Participation
Too much seriousness
Flippancy
Emotional Outbursts?
Build trust • Encourage Healthy Conflict •
Encourage Accountability • Secure Commitment*
• Produce Measurable long-term results
*Note: Buy in (does not always signify commitment)

8. Bruce Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development

9. 1st Semester -
Stage 6 (Director) -
Orientation of
Roles &
Responsibilities
Scheduling, mentors supervisors in
training of project coordinators in
principles outlined under stages 3 & 5,
debriefs on task and policy changes,
programming positive reinforcement
initiatives
Proposed:
Stage 5 (Supervisor) Taught skills in how to manage group
dynamics, mentorship, conflict
management, de-escalation,
boundary setting and team building,
supervises stages 1 & 2
Stage 4 (Clerical Stage) Taught memberships, basic bookkeeping,
documentation of policy compliance
Stage 1 Must be able to
follow assigned tasks
(e.g. cleaning)
Stage 2 (Mentee Stage) trusted with special projects,
assists with maintenance,
rounds, eq. checkout, etc.
Stage 3 (Project Coordinator) Expectations are clarified as training occurs in
customer service, risk management, ordering
supplies, coordinating cleaning schedules,
boundary setting and team building,

10. THE TRAINING CYCLE
•
STUDENT LEADERS DEVELOP SKILLS WHICH THEY HELP TEACH YOUNGER STUDENTS TO INCREASE
SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY, TRUST AND BUILD INCENTIVES THROUGH POSITIVE PEER REINFORCEMENT.
•
CHARACTERIZED BY EXPERIENCE-APPROPRIATE, PERFORMANCE-BASED TASKS
•
STUDENTS WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH A MERIT BASED TRAINING CYCLE WHERE THEY CAN EARN
INCENTIVES & BUILD MORE EXPERIENCE BY LEARNING MORE WAYS THEY CAN BE INVOLVED
(E.G. INCREASED AUTONOMY, ACCESS TO MENTORSHIP TRAINING, AND THE POWER TO COORDINATE
PROJECTS, IDENTIFY THE GOOD WORK OF THEIR PEERS, TO IDENTIFY PEER INCENTIVES & ALLOCATE
REWARDS.
•
TEACHES FACILITATION SKILLS AND REDISTRIBUTES WORK-LOAD TO CREATE MORE INCLUSION IN
DECISION MAKING & TRAINING PROCESS SO THAT LEARNING IS HAPPENING AT ALL LEVELS

11. Students respond well to the leadership of their
peers…
• Bridge the gap between student supervisor by
creating a culture where students create the
expectation that they are accountable to one
another.
• As leaders emerge, teach them how to coordinate
projects together, prioritize
responsibilities, communicate more effectively,
• & train them how to lead others the way they’d like
to be managed in a way that’s effective long term.
… the key is to include them in these roles.

12. 1st Semester -
Level 6 (Student Director) -
Orientation of
Roles &
Responsibilities
Scheduling, mentors supervisors in
training of project coordinators in
principles outlined under stages 3 & 5,
debriefs on task and policy changes,
programming positive reinforcement
initiatives
Final Outcome:
Building Supervisor – Level 5
Taught skills in how to manage group
dynamics, mentorship, conflict
management, de-escalation,
boundary setting and team building,
supervises stages 1 & 2
Freshmen Must be able to
follow assigned tasks
(e.g. cleaning)
Freshmen who exhibit
promise
trusted with special projects,
Level 4’s & 5’s-
Level 4 (Member Coordinator) -
Expectations are clarified as training occurs in
customer service, risk management, ordering
supplies, coordinating cleaning schedules,
boundary setting and team building,
Taught memberships, basic bookkeeping,
documentation of policy compliance,
assists with maintenance, rounds, eq.
checkout, etc.