Team Leader Qualities - Inspired

Team Leader

A great team leader is someone who can see each team members' strong suit(s) ie: organizer, communicator, leader, researcher, presenter, etc., focusing on the positive and using each team member accordingly for their special skill to accomplish the desired goal.

A great team leader also allows his/her team members to take credit where credit is due during the goal reaching process. A great team leader goes back after the goal is accomplished and discusses the process and how each member has contributed to the success of the goal. I believe focusing on the positive and letting go of the negative allows for confidence building which naturally builds esteem and desire in a person to perform better in their pursuits.

Listen. 

One of the most important things that you can do to ensure the success of your team is to listen to team members and to be sure to hear what they are saying. Always listen respectfully and expect other team members to do the same. Encourage all members to contribute their thoughts and ideas and, just as importantly, their concerns and criticisms. Also, encourage them to ask questions so that uncertainties can be addressed up front rather than later, when they have cost time and money and created frustration and confusion.

Listen to others.

Even though you are the team leader and you make the decisions, you should always ask people what their opinion is. Try to incorporate them whenever it's feasible. You aren't a dictator.

Don't play favorites. 

It can cause resentment and undercut team productivity.
Get to know each team member's strengths and weaknesses so that you can utilize his strengths most effectively and address his weaknesses appropriately.

Take in others' suggestions.

When someone gives you an idea, work on it. Think of how you can improve on it. A good leader is one that listens and not just talks. Show the team you are flexible to consider their thoughts.

Include everyone.

If some people are a little left behind, help them. Always try to include them. Find a task for everyone no matter what their skill or level.

Encourage your team.

Sometimes people are scared to try something and this is where the leader comes in. You have to encourage your team mates and show them that the task is possible, even if difficult, and try to make it fun for them. Show them the positive results of their work.

Work on your communication skills. 

You will be a better team leader if you are clear in setting goals, assigning responsibilities and detailing what needs to be done so that team members can focus their energy most productively.

Fair


Address problems quickly and fairly. If one team member is hurting the productivity and morale of the team, for example, by not getting work done on time, the best team leaders don't put off addressing the issue. Be specific about what the team member needs to do to improve, set a reasonable time frame for improvement and provide appropriate support to help the team member improve.


Great Teams Read Together

Leaders are readers, so if you’re going to create leaders within the team, they should consistently read. We’re always sharing articles and books among our team. It keeps us on top of recent trends and helps stimulate strategic thoughts.

Know what you are talking about.

If your teammates are as confused as you are, how will they know what to do? As the leader, you must do the research first, or have the most information.


Ask for input

Dictatorial team leaders command; effective team leaders seek input. Demonstrate your respect for team members by asking for their input and suggestions, and then using their best ideas.

Set realistic but challenging goals for the team. 

Goals that require team members to stretch and to learn new skills are more interesting and satisfying and more likely to bring out the best in the group.

Be a Thought Leader

Top talent is too good to work for middling companies with weak brands. The more you can position yourself as an authority in your industry, the more talent will naturally be attracted to your business. I try to contribute to at least two publications each month to share my expertise with others, and those articles show up when potential hires research my company.

Negotiation

Team leaders utilize negotiation skills to achieve results and reach an understanding in the event of a workplace conflict. Team leaders who negotiate effectively streamline the decision-making process, as well as solve problems for the best interest of everyone involved.

Enjoy being a leader.

Even though leaders have to take things seriously, there is no reason you can't have fun. Just don't get too carried away. Balance the serious business at hand with regard for the morale and spirits of the team.

Pay attention to morale.

A demoralized team won't function. You must set the positive spirit, make the goals clear, show how the job is feasible and possible. No one will work for an impossible goal.

Maintain Systematic Processes: 

Once you’ve achieved success in a certain area, create a process that mimics that success over and over. A great read on this topic is “The Checklist Manifesto.” In it, a hospital created checklists to create a systematic process for maintaining good health in the building, and they decreased infections by 66%. Checklists increase the effectiveness – and success – of a team.

Play to People’s Strengths

Find out what your employees are great at, but don’t forget about their weaknesses. Each team member should be spending time doing what he or she does best, but you should recognize weaknesses and help your employees improve. Don’t miss out on creating an all-around rock star employee just because he really “kills it” at one thing.


Lead by Example.

Be the kind of team member you want everyone on your team to be. Show–don’t just tell–team members what you aspire to for them.

A quality team leader treats team members fairly. 

He is consistent with rewards and recognition, as well as disciplinary action. A fair leader ensures all employees receive the same treatment.
Integrity

Don’t Settle for Mediocre

It’s not fun to fire people, so employers often settle for the first so-so person they hire. However, this practice can lead to weaknesses within a team. Once you realize a member of the team is performing at a mediocre level, call him out, but more importantly, support him to do better. If there’s no improvement, it’s time to find a new rock star for your team.

Invest in Your First Five Hires

The more time you invest in training your first five hires, the less time you have to spend training the ones who join the company later. Make it a point to set aside time with each member to support him or her so everyone is prepared to show that same support to new employees as your company grows.

Communication
Effective team leaders communicate clearly. Quality verbal and written communication skills allow leaders to present expectations to team members in a way workers can understand. Effective communication skills also allow team leaders to listen to the input of others.

Organization

Effective team leaders possess exceptional organizational skills. Organizational skills help team leaders plan objectives and strategies, which allow team members to perform optimally. Organized team leaders put systems in place that maintain order and guide team members toward meeting company goals and objectives.

Facilitator

Effective team leaders are powerful facilitators. As a facilitator, team leaders help workers understand their goals. They also help organize an action plan to ensure team members meet their goals and objectives more efficiently.

Give team members as much autonomy and independence as possible. 

Your job as team leader is to provide direction and oversight not to micromanage each member's work. The amount of hands-on management needed will depend on the team and its members, but be sure members have as much freedom as they deserve and can handle.

Personal Lives are Important: Recognize that your team members have personal lives. 

It’s easy to take small steps to celebrate birthdays, weddings, or other significant moments in their lives. If you see an opportunity to help a team member outside of work, it pays to take it. It helps build loyalty with your employees, and they tend to pay it forward with other team members.

An effective team leader is honest and open with his team members. 

Leaders who possess integrity gain the trust of team members because he does what he says he will do and treats others the same way he wants to be treated.

Influential

Influential leaders help inspire the commitment of team members to meet company goals and objectives. Influential leaders also help manage change in the workplace by gaining the confidence of workers through effective decision making and communication.

Delegation


Effective team leaders know how to share leadership through delegation. Delegating certain tasks to trustworthy team members allows the leader to focus on improving workplace functions and production.

Respectful

A quality team leader is respectful of his team members. A respectful leader empowers employees by encouraging them to offer ideas about decisions that affect them. This lets team members know that the leader respects their input and opinions.

Confidence

An effective team leader is confident in his abilities, as well as confident in the abilities of his team members. A confident leader is secure in the decisions he makes that affect his team. A self-confident team leader also reassures team members of his authority within the organization.

It’s Okay to Be Friends

In most offices, you’ll spend more time with your coworkers than you do with your family. Being friends and getting along not only increases performance, it also leads to a great work environment. As long as you keep a goal-oriented focus and hold people accountable, you shouldn’t be scared of a team that’s made up of your friends.

Emphasize the importance of the team. 

Celebrate successes as team successes and setbacks or failures as team setbacks or failures. Individual contributions certainly should be commended and rewarded, but the message should be that the team comes first.

Support team members' aspirations. 

As much as possible, help each member to grow professionally as a part of the team, give her more responsibility as it is warranted, and support her aspirations to eventually move beyond the team to new responsibilities.

Encourage Always
A good team member and a good team leader is known by the encouragement and support they offer others.

Trust is Crucial

A team member can be highly intelligent and a hard worker, but if you can’t trust that person, it’s time to let him go. If you keep that person on, you’ll have a bigger problem to deal with when disaster strikes. Your daily operations could take a big hit if you retain employees you can’t trust.

Forget the Money

Hire a person whose main motivation is to build a team, or someone who has a passion for your business in general. Money is extremely important, but when it’s the main thing on someone’s mind, it can be a distraction. It’s important for your employees to care about the success of your business, and if all they see are dollar signs, their hearts may not be in it.

Help by teaching, not by doing
Sometimes, especially when trying something new, team members need assistance. Get actively involved not in doing the work of the team member but in teaching them how to do it.

Give Recognition

Recognize people when they do something extraordinary. It not only gives people a sense of accomplishment, it inspires others to make efforts to go above and beyond their normal duties as well. We give a Championship Belt to a team member each week to recognize that person for doing something incredible. Even small efforts can make your employees feel appreciated and inspire them to do even more.

Strong Advocate

Be a strong advocate for the team with upper management, and be sure that team members know that you've got their back. This can make a huge difference in team morale and productivity and in your success as a team leader.

Diversity Brings Innovation

There’s a reason diversity is a common topic among employers. To build a great team, you need diverse thinkers. A variety of races, ages, and sexes can help a team think outside the box and hit problems from many different angles. Plus, it makes your office a more interesting place to work.