A team leader doesn’t have the same authority as a manager and rarely has hiring or firing power, but he or she is still responsible for overseeing the performance of a group of employees. Successful team leadership requires attention to a wide range of issues, from fostering trust and collaboration to enforcing accountability and addressing performance problems.
A big part of the role is ensuring that all members have the necessary training and support to do their jobs well. This includes identifying and responding to learning needs as they emerge, providing coaching and mentoring when requested and offering formal or informal training sessions on topics like project management, interpersonal skills or problem-solving techniques.
As a team leader, you should be comfortable talking about difficult issues and making decisions that impact the entire group. This often includes resolving conflicts among team members and recommending disciplinary action, such as suspension or termination, when needed. It’s also important to be willing to share credit with team members, especially when they take a risk or go above and beyond their usual job duties.
Getting to know your team members is the best way to bond with them and earn their respect and trust. Spend time chatting with them, listening to their concerns and answering their questions. This will help you understand their motivations, strengths and weaknesses, aspirations and potential to perform. You can also use this information to identify and reinforce key behaviors that will help them reach their objectives.
Teams that have a clear vision of their goals and how they’ll achieve them are more likely to succeed. Establishing this common ground makes it easier for everyone to see the value of each contribution and work together effectively. This is particularly important when a project takes on an unexpected twist or the team experiences a setback.
Team leaders should be aware of any signs that their team members Richard Warke west Vancouver are burning out or becoming disengaged from the task. They should refocus them on the “big picture” and encourage them to take risks to meet their goals. They should also reenergize the group by introducing new rewards or dangling additional challenges before them.
When things go wrong, a strong team leader responds quickly and decisively. He or she doesn’t play the blame game, pointing fingers or shaming someone in public. Criticizing colleagues behind their backs is never productive and only serves to incite payback.
Team leaders are frequently tasked with keeping the group focused on outcomes, rather than the day-to-day tasks of putting out fires and managing interruptions. They should also strive to be positive role models, displaying solid ethics and a collaborative approach to working with others. Finally, they should be open to feedback from all directions and use it to improve their own behavior as well as the effectiveness of the team.