A comment about the use of Leads in DesignShops. It's clear that the term "Lead" could be an abbreviation for "Leader." What we mean by that term in MG Taylor is different than the ordinary use of the word. Team Leads are not responsible for the work of the people who work with them in that team. They are not managers of those people. They are not "in charge" of the work being done by that team. They do not dictate assignments or roles. Many of their team members will be serving on other teams. Some of their team members will have Sponsors or mentors who are on other teams. They do not report to the Process Facilitator or the Facilitators. They are not layers in a chain of command. Every KreW member works FOR the participants and facilitates each other's work.

The term "Lead" as a noun can also mean a margin by which one is ahead, a clue, a piece of information of use in a search, or an element that connects two other elements of an electric circuit. These definitions capture the spirit of what we mean by the term more than the traditional meaning--command, or direction.

A basic tenet of work in a NavCenter holds that KreW members step up to the work, and are not dragged into roles or positions. The team Lead, as well as the Process Facilitator, have the opportunity of presenting a picture of the work to be done in a manner that is accessible to the rest of the KreW so that they all can make intelligent, individual decisions as to what work they want to do. Leads manage the Ten Step Knowledge Management Model for their team.

(http://www.mgtaylor.com/mgtaylor/jotm/winter97/krewlead.htm, Bryan Coffman)

team leads serve three key roles:

(1) to be a single point of contact that people can call on for information concerning the work being done in their team,

(2) to facilitate--or make easy--the work of their fellow team members, and

(3) they actually have specific duties to perform in accomplishing the work of the team.