Different types of crew chiefs require different skills and responsibilities, but all require excellent people management and technical knowledge. Army chiefs of staff must be prepared to learn three different jobs, while air crew chiefs need to understand the mechanics of various aircraft. Motorsport team managers must have sharp minds for mechanics and people management, while construction site team leaders must be experts in construction and people management.
To become a team boss, you must first decide what kind of boss you want to be. Crew chiefs are important managers of people and equipment in the military, in motor racing, and on construction sites. Each job requires almost completely different skills and responsibilities. The one thing that doesn’t change from job to job is that team leaders are excellent people managers with a lot of technical knowledge.
If you want to become a chief of staff in the Army, you must be prepared to learn three different jobs. The primary responsibility of crew chiefs in the US Army, for example, is to supervise a crew to repair and perform pre-flight mechanical checks on military helicopters. The second job of an Army chief of staff is to be able to take over as gunner if he becomes incapacitated. Also, you must be able to fly the helicopter if the pilot is unable to perform his duties. This means that you have to research and rise through the ranks, not only to repair helicopters, but also to shoot and shoot.
You don’t have to juggle so many responsibilities to become an air crew chief. A United States Air Force crew chief, for example, is responsible for the maintenance of several aircraft. An air crew chief needs to understand the mechanics of everything from a state-of-the-art jet to a huge transport plane in order to spot problems and fix them. People with high aptitude for science, mathematics and mechanics excel in this position.
A motorsport team manager involves a very different collection of tasks. You’ll need to have a sharp mind for mechanics, but you’ll need to be even better at managing people to succeed. If you become a crew chief for a racing car team, you will oversee the entire team and the driver, ensuring that the team has the best chance of winning. You will also report to the owner and sponsors, making sure they are informed and satisfied with the direction of the team. Understanding the physics of racing and all parts of the car is essential, but also your communication skills.
To become a team leader on a construction site, instead of needing mechanical knowledge, you will need to know everything about construction. You must also be an expert in handling people management, because team leaders must oversee dozens or even hundreds of workers on a single project. You must ensure that the project is being built on time and on budget, so math skills are just as important as interpersonal skills.
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