Team leadership skills. How and What a Poor vs Good leader is at Work.
Lead well and the rest will follow.
Good, effective team leadership is a vital part of running a successful business, getting it right will ensure a happy, productive workforce and an encouraging, motivating work environment. Where as bad practice of team leadership will quickly filter through, resulting in a dissatisfied, resentful workforce, working in an environment that restricts and depresses them.
If subjected to an insufficient work environment and poor team leadership, good members of staff will find work elsewhere. Maybe not in the immediate future but you can be sure that as soon as an alternative opportunity becomes available, they will not hesitate to take it and rightly so. No one wants to work somewhere that they feel, is not fulfilling their needs emotionally, professionally or psychologically.
If valuable members of staff continue to leave regularly and voluntarily the company will soon be left at a considerable loss, a good worker is a valuable asset and any business would do well to remember that. The rigmarole and the sheer inconvenience of finding another employee is difficult and yet if it is as a result of ineffective team leadership, makes it completely unnecessary.
By implementing a few simple, reliable team leadership skills that work, a company can bring out the best of their employees and enable them to reach their full potential.
make time for your team.
Time is one of the most important things you can give and by giving them as much of your time as possible, you are showing them that they are worth making time for. This will enable the members of your team to feel valued and in turn will willingly give you their time, when requested and are able.
The emphasis should be on quality time, I may add. Not just a rushed 10 minutes here and there with your mind elsewhere. Give them your undivided and complete attention, if you really can't manage it the moment they ask for it, which may well be the case, be sure to schedule some time at a later date and honour it.
Lead from the front.
Set a good example and work in a manner with which you would like your colleagues to practice.
Treat others how you would like to be treated, be punctual, ethical and give 100%. Others will see why you obtained the position of team leader, will admire how you work and strive to reach the high standerds you have set.
be consistant.
If you have a strong opinion on an issue you feel is important and you are as sure as you can be, that you are right. Draw a hard line, be firm, Stand up for what you believe in and don't be easily swayed, even if there appears to be some opposition. Or worse, change your mind at the drop of a hat and leave your team feeling confused as to where you stand.
When the going gets tough you want to be the person people know they can count on and be trusted. Offer people the chance to voice their concerns or share their opinions, but
be motivational.
Encourage good working practice, reward hard work and effort, support members of your team. Show optimism and praise.
Offer and arrange for activities that are beneficial to the people you work with.
Ask them for feedback and ideas, what would make there working experience better. Provide what you can and what you think will work.
Treat all fairly and equally.
Prejudice is absolutely not acceptable, weather in or out of the workplace and all team members are to be treated as equal. Regardless of gender, race, physical ability, age or religion.
Each and every member of your team will have something valuable and valid to contribute, your job is to discover how best to help each of them, bring the best of themselves to the fore.
Be honest.
If there is a problem or you feel something needs to be addressed, be honest. Lies will be found out and even if by some chance there not, a guilty conscience will place added stress on your position.
If an issue arises that you are really not at liberty to divulge, explain that, that is the case and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Keep control of your emotions.
Even at the most stressful of times, keep your emotions under control. Do not lose your temper and start shouting or break down in tears. As team leader it is your job to lead, if you are seen as not being able to cope, when you are suppose to be the most capable, any respect you had earned will be lost and possibly your job, if unstable outbursts continue.
Communicate clearly and ensure everyone understands.
You can have the best plan or idea in the universe, however it will never be properly executed if it has not been demonstrated or communicated in a way, where all can contribute to the best of their ability, purely because of poor understanding.
If anyone seems unsure of a proposed concept, ask them in private if they would like further expkaination or help.
Always ask if there are any further concerns, questions or ideas and let all involved know that they can call on you if needed.
Don't pass the buck.
If you're ever to blame admit it, your honesty will be respected and those working under or for you, will be more likely to admit any fault on their part now or on future projects.
Everyone makes mistakes and only by admitting fault will the a problem be resolved.
Don't resort to bullying.
Although at times when you are feeling powerless or stressed, it is easy to lash out, there is however never any need to shout, belittle or insult your staff.
Even when working with the most difficult of people, bully tactics never work. Staff will lose respect for you even if they seem more eager to work, they will be harbouring resentment or fear and this is not the way to motivate a team.
