Great team leaders turn out great teams….
Based on our previous post about management techniques, this week we’re looking in more depth at Team Leaders. A Team Leader isn’t a manager. They are there to ensure that the team pulls together whilst also working on the project. Good team leaders lead by example and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty pitching in with the rest of the team.
Communication
A team leader isn’t there to be an extra layer of management. They’re there to provide one point of contact for the team and to do this they need to talk to their team. It’s essential that a team leader keeps communicating with their team. This will keep them up to speed on how the project is going and also allow them to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of their team members so that they can choose the most appropriate tasks for them.
Listening
Communication is a two-way street. Team leaders need to listen to their team members and act on what they’re hearing. They know they won’t be able to please everyone all the time but if they show that they value everyone’s point of view then the team will run more smoothly. Listening will also help them get to know their team which will make it easier to gain respect.
Define Roles Within the Team
If the team aren’t sure if a task is part of their role then you can be sure that task won’t get done. Good Team Leaders make it very clear what they expect from each employee – with appropriate deadlines if needed – and make sure that no task is left un-allocated.
Encourage Feedback
Letting the team know how well they are doing and keeping criticism constructive is essential. The team need to be unafraid of offering feedback on the leader too. By having feedback as a natural part of the internal dialogue of the team it will start to come naturally which will improve the quality of the feedback and the ease with which team members accept feedback and criticism of themselves.
Lead by Example
Weak Team Leaders quickly lose all credibility when they say one thing and do another. Good Team Leaders also spend time critiquing their leadership style. Are they listening enough? Are they communicating with the team effectively? They aren’t afraid to ask for advice if they feel they are struggling with an issue. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s a sign that they know their limitations and want to do something about it and a good manager will recognise this as such.
Now we’ve explained a little about the qualities a good team leader should have, it may be time you assessed your own performance to ensure you’re doing all you can to motivate and work with your team.
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