View and vote on the article here: Let's talk : Interview with Marshal SHEPHERD on Staff Training
Let's talk : Interview with Marshal SHEPHERD on Staff Training| Category | | | Summary | Hello Shepherd, thank you for agreeing to do this interview on Staff Training. You are our Staff Training coordinator. How long have you been doing this?
When the Staff Training program started way back under CinC Scanjack, I participated with |
| | Body | Hello Shepherd, thank you for agreeing to do this interview on Staff Training. You are our Staff Training coordinator. How long have you been doing this?
When the Staff Training program started way back under CinC Scanjack, I participated with a couple of other folks taking turns teaching various topics. When I returned from my 6 month LOA this year, CinC Condor191 asked me to assume the role as Staff Training Coordinator as a primary duty.
When (and why) did staff first see the need for future Staff members to go through a training program before becoming full-fledged Staffers?
There were a couple of incidents in particular which called for a need to train future Staff members. I won't go into detail about those events, other than to say that individuals whom the current Staff felt were knowledgeable, experienced and would be an asset to Staff were selected, appointed, and then failed to "transition". One of those individuals never made it through the front door. The other individual spent some time on Staff and turned out not to be a team player, which resulted in their removal.
Nobody was happy with these incidents, so we took a look at what happened, and what we could do to help individuals recommended for staff to "transition" from being a general member, to a supportive Staff member.
What requirements does someone have to meet to be eligible for Staff Training? What does it take for members to be selected?
The most important requirement for someone to be eligible for Staff Training is having built a reputation for trust in the community. It's easy for someone to say they "trust" someone. But members of Staff are actually the CinC's staff. He relies on Staff to present ideas, suggestions, advice and recommend courses of action. In addition, Staff is responsible for the daily management of CA as a whole. Staff gains access to various administrative functions, which could easily be abused. So trust has become the first consideration when recommending and selecting someone for a Staff position.
While regular, productive activity is obviously a requirement, activity in a brigade as well as throughout CA is also an important requirement. Staff as a whole acts on issues throughout CA, not just Brigade related issues. As such, it's important for future Staff members to recognize the "whole" picture and be apart of issues outside of their respective Brigades. Some individuals choose to participate in Inter-Brigade projects (such as participating in zZine submissions, writing articles for OSI and PC's Privacy Watch, to teaching classes for CAU). Others choose to assist with CA level projects (such as contributing to SNEAK, Moderation, and dinah coding). Participating in projects throughout CA helps make an individual more "well rounded" and more capable of participating in discussions which effect multiple Brigades and CA as a whole.
You mentioned these administrative functions that new trainees learn about. What kind of administrative functions are they?
Some of the administrative functions include access to the /command panel which allows you to look up additional information for, say, site bans. Another function is groupware. Not everyone has access to everything, but if you are responsible for something, you're able to manage some administration through groupware. Not really a function, but access is also given to various Staff forums and the Staff's IRC Channel.
How long does the training usually take?
Staff Training is broken down into two phases. Together, the generally take about two months. The modules themselves could be covered in a day. But the purpose of the training is to allow for a transition to Staff. As such, a class is given once a week. The trainee has time to reflect on the classes and see issues throughout CA which they may not have paid much attention to which deal with the current class. Then they have the opportunity to discuss that information not only with me as their primary trainer, but also with other Staff members
which is very important when joining the Staff team. A trainee can get through the training in about 2 months. However, trainees get an evaluation at the completion of Phase I and are then considered for continuation into Phase II. If someone doesn't appear to have grasped the issues previously presented or appear to be struggling with transitioning, they could be removed from training, or asked to repeat Phase I, which would obviously increase the length of training.
How long did it take you to go from Trooper to Staffer? Did you go through staff training? If so, how did you experience it?
Events tend to blur over time
so I'm not sure exactly. But, if I recall, I spent about 18 months working up through CAU before taking command. I spent a couple of months as CAU's commander before being appointed to Staff. So, a little over a year and half. I did not go through Staff Training. When I came up through the ranks, Zebulun was still the primary method of selecting Staff members. Field Promotions/Appointments were becoming more wide spread. I was field promoted to Ker shortly prior to taking command of CAU and then appointed to Staff a few months later as a Kernel, which was still fairly new also, since Staff was comprised primarily of Generals at that time.
Recently, Kernels PixieLuv and Icklenewt were selected for staff training, why were they chosen?
PixieLuv and Icklenewt have different characteristics which make them important considerations as potential additions to Staff. But most importantly, PixieLuv and Icklenewt have both built a reputation for trust within CA. They are able to conduct routine business within and outside of their Brigades with little to no guidance following long established policies. In addition, neither are hesitant to ask for guidance or opinions if they feel additional feedback is needed before they act on something. That's a good trait to have, the ability to ask others for an opinion before you do something. It helps make sure everyone sees the situation in a similar manner and is acted on with a common.
PixieLuv and Icklenewt have also been very active in their Brigades. Both are XO's and help their Brigade Commanders in various aspects of running the Brigades. They have also contributed to other areas outside of their Brigades in many areas. They have become well rounded CA members. Participating in topics presented on the Staff Administration Forum has also been one of their strong points. They can be depending on to express their opinions and offer recommendations on how to handle various issues.
Along different paths, they have both become leaders in the community and are depended upon to help guide the community. As such, they stand out as potential Staff Members and were recommended to enter the Staff Training Program.
What does the training include exactly? What kind of skills and knowledges are thaught to the trainees?
The most important aspect of the training is for Staff to get to know the trainees (if they don't by this point) and for the trainees to get to know the Staff. The Staff is made up of individuals whom all have varying opinions on different issues. Understanding that Staff is a team meant to advise the CinC is the goal of the training. It's the biggest reason we spread the training out over a couple of months, rather than running through the classes in a couple of days. If you're not a team player, you're not going to perform your appointed role to support the CinC and work with other Staff members. That doesn't mean you can't have your own opinion or disagree with other's ideas. It does mean you have to present your thoughts in a tactful, respectful and professional manner. And you have to be willing to understand that your ideas will not always prevail.
The current training is broken down into modules in two phases. The first phase consists of orientation, which describes what Staff is and what Staff is not along with Staff Policies and Responsibilities. Other modules include Moderation and Public Relations, because these areas are Staff Responsibilities. The trainees are given access to different areas of CA which pertain to that particular module (if one exists) and encouraged to interact with Staff in the Staff Training IRC Channel. At the completion of Phase I, the trainee is evaluated and considered for progression through the training.
Phase II consists of a leadership module and a reporting module which focuses on SWOT. Homework is assigned throughout the training, but gets more intensive at this point. Because of increased access to Staff areas, trainees are beginning to participate in Staff discussions and offer their opinions on issues of greater importance to the community as a whole. At the completion of Phase II, a final evaluation is conducted and the trainee is considered for acceptance as a full Staff member, additional training, or removal from the program (which would generally occur if the trainee failed to "transition", or in someone has violated the trust placed in them).
Also, you mentioned "SWOT", I've heard this term before, but in short, could you explain what it is?
SWOT, simply put is a technique for identifying Strengths and Weaknesses and examining Opportunities and Threats. It can be used in varies aspects of one's life, but is often used in business for analyzing the current state of a team or project or even large scale groups and then developing a strategy to improve.
How are PixieLuv and Icklenewt doing in the training program?
They are both doing great. At this point in one's CA Career as a Kernel, individuals are usually pretty familiar with most aspects of CA. For example, both PL and ickz have been moderation members. They could probably do a better job teaching Mod than I can. But we still have to cover the material, just in case they don't see Mod from a Staff perspective. I insist on feedback/discussion during the classes. Even if someone is familiar with the material, they need to contribute, just as they would on Staff
offering their thoughts and opinions. Both Pix and ickz make the classes very interactive and educational for all of us because of their questions and their comments.
What are the best and respectively worst experiences you've had with the Staff Training?
I don't know that we've had any bad experiences with Staff Training. For me personally, I would have to say that when we began the Staff Training Program, we had ideas about what to cover, but no defined outline. As such, we bounced around topics. The training was also conducted in the Staff Training channel where other Staff members sit in order to talk to and evaluate the trainees. When the training was being conducted, it was easy for "everyone" to get involved. From my experience, this isn't the best way to teach. So I moved the actual classes out of the channel into a private channel so differing opinions don't confuse the trainees.
The best experience I think is the overall effect Staff Training has had on new Staff Members. It's easy for CA members to have a misconception about what Staff really is. As such, the training helps dispel some of those illusions and we end up with new Staff Members who have a solid understanding of and realistic expectations for how Staff works.
Is Staff already thinking about future members to go through Training?
I'm not currently aware of any future prospects for Staff Training at this time.
What are the biggest differences between an LtKer or Kernel and someone on Staff?
LtKer's, IMO, are experienced Majors who have continued to prove themselves in the community as active and productive members. They're serious about their dedication to CA and are approaching that limit where they'll serve as leaders throughout CA. Some have already reached this point and just have to "pull their time".
Kernels are our senior leaders prior to Staff. Some choose not to continue on to Staff for various reasons, but enjoy leading large-scale projects and helping not only their Brigades, but also the general membership as a whole. I could easily label Kernels as the workhorses in CA. They balance their work with the policy discussions shared on the Staff Administration forum.
Someone who accepts a position on Staff understands the dynamics and politics within CA. They understand that Staff isn't a power position, but rather an additional job, which requires a great deal of time and contributions to CA on multiple fronts.
For all the LtKer's out there, like myself, which would be the main thing they would have to work on?
For LtKer's aspiring to be on Staff, I would recommend a couple of things. And they are what I've already discussed. Get and then stay serious about the integrity of your online CA identity. That is who we know you as and you should ensure people see you as trustworthy and dependable. It's like the old saying: "All you have is your word."
Second, get involved and stay involved. And then reach out into other areas and expand your "resume". This doesn't mean forsaking your personal life. That's simply a matter of time management. But as a Staff member, you have to be knowledgeable of varying projects in order to properly advise and make suggestions. We can get "off the cuff" comments from anyone, but as a Staff Member, you really need to understand the whole picture and how things work together in order to accomplish our Mission Statement, and be prepared to think outside of the box in order to come up with solutions.
Last, remember that we're a team, whether on Staff or not. Always be ready to help out so that we can all succeed.
On another not, how are you doing in real life otherwise? How's life?
Ah
none of us can escape real life. I've been back from Iraq for just over a year now. I had felt as if a chuck of my life disappeared for a while, but that fades as you readjust and establish new routines. I tried working for a property management company for a short while (hence my 6 month LOA) but wasn't happy with that. I'm currently in Real Estate class and have a job lined up once I finish up my state exams. I'm looking forward to that. And I continue to work on my B.S., which is a slow boring trek. Otherwise, the rest of my personal life is great.
Well, that's all I have, thanks again, and good luck with the trainees
Thank you for letting me share some insights into the Staff Training Program. I'm sure we'll have new Staff Members very soon.
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This article was imported from zZine. (original author: Crash Reaver)
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