Top 7 Tips for Leading Teams

A team is only as good as the person who leads it. Strong leadership is a vital element of having a successful team, but it may be lacking in many teams. Frequently, teams have to struggle with several challenges they face, from workplace conflict to low productivity, which can disrupt projects.

The solution comprises enabling effective team leaders. The latter can motivate and guide their team members. But such skills of leadership do not always come naturally. Thankfully, they can be acquired by attending the graduate certificate in leadership.

Definition

A team leader is a person who gets persons to work together in order to accomplish a particular desired outcome. Team leaders make use of an array of skills like motivation and vision to encourage people to perform at their best level. They also enable team members to rely on each other to accomplish goals more effectively and efficiently.

Tips for effectively leading a team

The following tips may help persons to become great team leaders and lead their teams to success:

• Set an example 

Team leaders need to set examples for others to follow. In case a team leader only makes demands without contributing to teamwork, team members will feel resentful. The difference between a boss and a leader is that the latter is conscious that team members are watching them. If the leader expends his time and energy on the project, the team members will go along also. In opposed to this, if they note that the team leader is slacking, they will have less motivation to work assiduously.

• Effective and clear communication 

The team leader has the responsibility to complete tasks in a mode which is consistent, efficient and adheres to the leading strategic goals of the company. To accomplish this, the leader should clearly enunciate these goals as well as detail the particular processes and work which will be needed by the team to reach these. Through effective communication, confusion will be removed from the team, and all members will work together towards common objectives.

• Emotional intelligence 

This kind of intelligence refers to the ability of an individual to manage the emotions of others as well as those of their own. Strong leaders have highly developed emotional intelligence. A person with an acute sense of empathy, self-awareness and such social skills will be able to influence and motivate others.

• Organization

Apart from overseeing daily tasks performed by members of the team, the leader might have to supervise project timelines and budgets. The leader needs a high level of skills of an organization in order to juggle so many tasks and make needed adjustments along the way. Such skills can be honed by diploma of leadership and management.

• Capacity to delegate

Though it might be highly tempting to micromanage team members, such actions can damage the progress of the project. A great manager has the knowledge and capacity to delegate work to other persons. He knows who the best person to complete each task is.

• Openness 

This quality goes hand in hand with effective communication and emotional intelligence. It is vital that team members feel free to approach the leader to clear any doubts or concerns. In case the leader is not open, issues will go unaddressed, and it will be too late to solve these.

• Problem-solving

All team leaders will run into problems no matter how organized and well-prepared they are. This might be a milestone or deadline that is missed. It could pertain to the budget or an unexpected breakdown in the chain of supply.

Whatever be the issue, team leaders should be skilled in problem-solving. The capacity to judge a challenge, emerge with potential solutions and be ready with a response is skills critical for team leaders.

In sum, leading a team is most challenging, though frequently rewarding. You are designing an atmosphere which fosters personal growth and success by bringing together the right processes and people.