How to deal with flakes?

[kman58]

I'm sure everyone here even from the best teams has had people flake out, whether it be from team gatherings, extra practices, mandatory practices, or even an entire semester. What are some good/effective ways you all have found to deal with it? Any effective consequences to these actions (besides obviously booting them from the team)? Thanks!

 

[Sue Sylvester]

Yeah, I know what you mean. This one semester, my dancers were flaking all the time and it really affected practices and team morale. It was just a messy situation. The people who weren't flaking didn't want to come to practices anymore. Then, one of friends from another team gave me invaluable advice that worked for my dancers: Apply a small amount to hands and massage into scalp. Drag lather through hair and rinse well. http://i.imgur.com/kf1zoqQ.jpg

 

[Sue Sylvester]

But seriously, don't try to deal with flaking, but rather deal with the underlying cause. The underlying cause is that people don't perceive there to be enough value in your team, don't share your vision for the future of your team and don't respect you as a leader enough that they fear the consequences of crossing you or disappointing you.

The best teams have an easy way to deal with flakes. They don't. They don't take their bullshit because their flakiness negatively affects the rest of the team in all areas. If the flakes are not adding value, then they're taking it away. Your dancers that are showing up are going to feel belittled and it's a lose-lose situation for everyone in the long run. Don't have people on your team that aren't constantly adding value - cut the fat. When eviction is on the table, it may motivate them to start to take the team more seriously, but you also have to consider why they didn't take the team seriously in the first place. Are your dancers not vested enough in the success of the team? Empower them by giving them responsibilities. Or do they not take you seriously enough - you may need to change your demeanor at practices and how you approach running practices. If the rest of your dancers feel that the team is productive and is a meaningful experience for them, then those flakes may have just been a bad fit for your team.

 

[kman58]

The underlying cause is that people don't perceive there to be enough value in your team, don't share your vision for the future of your team and don't respect you as a leader enough that they fear the consequences of crossing you or disappointing you.

The best teams have an easy way to deal with flakes. They don't. They don't take their bullshit because their flakiness negatively affects the rest of the team in all areas.

+23937151

Good shit man that pumped me up hahaha. Also I died at the image not gonna lie. Season hasn't started quite yet for us but it's good to take some precautionary advice to prevent flakiness as much as possible, because it's been one of the biggest problems on my team for years.

 

[SGupta7]

Pretty much everything Sue said was right on the money. Just wondering, do you guys compete? I googled you guys, but only found exhibitions. The reason I ask is because on a day-to-day basis practice can be stressful and tedious, especially for students who have 100 other things they should be doing. Going to comps is kind of the light at the end of the tunnel, at least for me, and may be enough incentive to keep people around.


It also helps when your team is a close-knit group. I've been lucky enough to be on teams with kids that I really enjoyed being around and it made it a hell of a lot easier to show up to practice. So i'd suggest hanging out more as team (i.e.- go out on weekends together, throw holiday parties, gift exchanges, etc)

 

[siddyp]

But seriously, don't try to deal with flaking, but rather deal with the underlying cause. The underlying cause is that people don't perceive there to be enough value in your team, don't share your vision for the future of your team and don't respect you as a leader enough that they fear the consequences of crossing you or disappointing you.

The best teams have an easy way to deal with flakes. They don't. They don't take their bullshit because their flakiness negatively affects the rest of the team in all areas. If the flakes are not adding value, then they're taking it away. Your dancers that are showing up are going to feel belittled and it's a lose-lose situation for everyone in the long run. Don't have people on your team that aren't constantly adding value - cut the fat. When eviction is on the table, it may motivate them to start to take the team more seriously, but you also have to consider why they didn't take the team seriously in the first place. Are your dancers not vested enough in the success of the team? Empower them by giving them responsibilities. Or do they not take you seriously enough - you may need to change your demeanor at practices and how you approach running practices. If the rest of your dancers feel that the team is productive and is a meaningful experience for them, then those flakes may have just been a bad fit for your team.

boooom. couldn't agree more

 

[Mr. Mankiran]

Teams that aren't necessarily dominant and competing a lot have to deal with flakes ALL THE TIME. It is important to understand who cares and who doesn't, who loves dancing bhangra for the dance itself, and not necessarily always looking to compete. That is what it all really comes down to and problems start to solve themselves from there on out.


Also, keep more dancers than actually fit the amount of costumes you have, you might find some gems that are more than willing to stick around and will step in when needed. This worked for me this past year and we ended up making some nice bhangra dancers out of raw talent.


Stick with it, people will respect you, eventually.

 

[lakha23]

That was too good veere haha ;D

Yeah, I know what you mean. This one semester, my dancers were flaking all the time and it really affected practices and team morale. It was just a messy situation. The people who weren't flaking didn't want to come to practices anymore. Then, one of friends from another team gave me invaluable advice that worked for my dancers: Apply a small amount to hands and massage into scalp. Drag lather through hair and rinse well. http://i.imgur.com/kf1zoqQ.jpg

 

[sumeetj]

everything sue and shawn said i +1 for sure

but honestly regardless of whether some teammates may be your friends or there from the beginning etc etc, some people are just flake-ers by nature. its also something more prevalent on teams that dont have a ton of options for other dancers, ive had friends come late to practice and i tell they are wasting other people's valuable time and they have simple said "fine then cut me" - so on teams that are attempting to establish themselves, where dancers might not feel like they are part of something big or feel like they are at risk for losing their spot, you have to be prepared for it

 

[PunjabPolice]

listen, jatta. Take hath vich dang and agle da ser paat de. Phir appe pata lag ju. -you're welcome

 

[kman58]

Lol PunjabPolice that's cute
We haven't been a competing team the past few years we've been around unfortunately, the primary reason being flakes I would say. Low commitment at practice + team members dropping like flies leads to an unfortunate competitive situation. I'll definitely keep all this in mind during tryouts and during the season. Thank you all for your support!

 

[vishwassodhi]

bann ke rakh la sareya nu rasse nal, roti vi na dai. jiwen punjab de coach hunde, daang chak la te jehra flake maare, ohde chittran te maar khich ke. fer dekhi kidaan har practice te aaunde