🧭 Team Manager Simulator

Leadership isn’t about control — it’s about direction and care.
In this lesson you’ll practice managing a small team, balancing three roles:

🎯 Organizer — plans work and time.
💬 Motivator — keeps energy and trust.
📈 Analyst — reads results and improves flow.

Your goal: deliver results and keep people happy.

🎬 Warm‑Up Story — The Poster Week

Your class must produce a school event poster by Friday.

Alex is creative but slow.
Sam is fast but misses details.
Lina is organized but shy.
Jordan is a natural leader, yet interrupts others.

As a manager, you don’t “do it all”. You align strengths, set a simple plan, and keep the tone kind.

“A good manager creates space where people do their best work.”

A simulator dashboard with team members, a checklist, and bars for Happiness and Productivity. — Think in loops: Plan → Act → Check → Adjust. Leadership is iteration.

🧩 The Three Manager Roles

Role	What You Do	Typical Mistake	Fix
🎯 Organizer	Set priorities, split tasks, set deadlines	Micromanage everything	Delegate outcomes, not steps
💬 Motivator	Support, praise, unblock, protect focus	Only cheer, no clarity	Pair praise with next step
📈 Analyst	Track progress, review quality, learn	Measure everything, forget people	Discuss data with empathy

Balance is the skill. If one role grows too strong, the others suffer.

A poster showing three circles: Organizer, Motivator, Analyst with overlap labeled Balanced Leadership. — Great managers switch roles smoothly — like gears in a bike.

🛠 Tools You’ll Use in the Simulator

Kanban view: To‑Do → In Progress → Done.
Priority tags: Must / Should / Nice.
Check‑ins: 5‑minute stand‑ups: “What’s done? What’s next? Any blockers?”
Feedback presets: Praise, Coaching, Boundary.
Energy bar: If morale drops, results drop too.

Rule: Short messages, kind tone, clear ask.

💬 Feedback That Works

Use three sentence patterns you can adapt anywhere:

Praise: “I liked how you simplified the layout — the title reads much clearer.”
Coaching: “Let’s try a headline under 6 words; can you propose two options by 3pm?”
Boundary: “We start at 3pm tomorrow. If you’re late, we reassign tasks to stay on track.”

Practice them now — they make hard talks easier.

A manager and teammate review a board together; speech bubbles show positive, clear, and specific feedback. — Be specific, be kind, and point to the next step.

🔄 Recovery Mode — When Things Go Wrong

Common issues and quick resets:

Problem	Signal	Reset
Overload	Many tasks “In Progress”	Limit WIP to 1–2 per person
Hidden blocker	Work stuck for 2+ days	Daily 5‑min check‑ins, ask “What’s blocking you?”
Low morale	Short replies, silence	Pair small win + quick break
Quality dips	Rework increases	Add a “Checker” step before “Done”

Students relax together with tea near a board that says Short Break = Fresh Brain. — Rest is a tool, not a treat. Teams recover energy together.

⚠️ Manager Pitfalls (and Fixes)

Pitfall	What Happens	Do Instead
Do it all yourself	Burnout, silent team	Delegate outcomes, teach approach
Only praise	Drift, missed deadlines	Pair praise with a clear next step
Only demand	Fear, hidden problems	Ask, listen, remove blockers
No “why”	Low motivation	Repeat the goal and who it helps

An infographic-style classroom poster listing common manager mistakes and better alternatives. — Clarity + care beats pressure every time.

🎮 Play: Team Manager – Core Loop

You’ll play 3 rounds. Each round = one project day.

Round start: review board → set Must tasks → assign roles.
During round: run a check‑in, choose feedback, watch morale.
Round end: move cards, log learnings, adjust plan.

Track two metrics: Happiness and Productivity.
Your aim is steady progress without burnout.

✍️ Reflection Prompts

After each round, answer briefly:

What decision improved the flow?
Where did I over‑ or under‑manage?
What would I change tomorrow?

That’s how managers learn — fast cycles, honest notes.

🏁 Result & Badge

Finish all rounds and hit the target score → unlock the People Manager badge.
It means you can plan, motivate, and improve — kindly.

A golden badge labeled People Manager with icons of a heart, clock, and chart. — People Manager: you deliver results and protect the team’s energy.

✅ Your Checklist

I set one clear goal and three Must tasks.
I delegated outcomes, not steps.
I ran short check‑ins and removed blockers.
I used praise, coaching, and boundary sentences.
I protected breaks to sustain energy.
I wrote reflections after each round.

🔗 Next Step

You’re ready for Month 6: Capstone & Certification.
Bring your favorite idea, form a team, and run a mini company from plan to pitch.

“Lead with clarity. Care with intention. Improve in loops.”