I want people to like me and I feel really awkward telling them what to do! Help please
It is always difficult feeling as though you are trying to exercise control over people or ‘ordering’ them around. Everyone wants to feel liked and for this reason, there are many tricks you can use to make sure everyone feels as dedicated to the project as you are.
The best way to go about this is to make sure everyone has really clearly defined responsibilities. This will give them a sense of ownership over the task and mean they will feel it is their job to produce good work! Make sure that if they feel they are unable to complete a project, they are the ones that delegate it to someone else so that they understand the gravity of placing the burden of their work on someone else.
Remind them that being in a project with you isn’t boring- it’s rewarding! Assigning your teammates titles for their applications and giving them full credit for their successes will ensure that they are grateful to be a part of your vision and the great results it has yielded.
Remember that offering guidance is something you are doing to help your teammates- not hinder them.
Joanna.