A club with long, rusty spikes on the working end is nice.
Seriously, it's a good question. I once worked at a residential youth home with some of the most troubled kids in the state. The whole communication thing goes beyond conveying things...it takes a great deal of listening, and questions as well.
Here are some thoughts of mine:
-Determining appropriate timing for certain conversations is important.
-Stand in 'neutral ground' and focus on the goals of the conversation.
-Know when to quit and come back to it if necessary.
-Begin and end a conversation with a positive comment, criticism in-between.
-Apply good doses of positive reinforcement during operations (it makes criticism better received).
Have tailgate meetings in the morning. Go over safety, rescue options, job description, and designate clear expectations for crew members.
I was recently talking with someone about old traditional methods of keeping a crew together at sea. There was usually some sort of song that formed a rhythm for the task, and everyone sang. It may not be applicable for a tree crew, but perhaps something along the same lines. In my days of commercial fishing, I learned that what's good for the boat is good for the crew. Keep a clear understanding that completing job requires everyone, and that each task or position is equally important as a whole.
Just a bit more food for thought...it's much easier to begin leadership in a strict manner, and chill out over time rather than the opposite.
