6 Techniques of Leading a Strong and Successful Team at Your Workplace
Photo Courtesy: Sonia Belviso
Being a team leader requires emotional intelligence, problem solving capabilities, the ability to think on the feet and management skills. Here are a few ways in which you can effectively lead a strong team at your workplace.
1. Allot responsibilities according to everyone’s skills
As a team leader you may be making a terrible mistake by offering number crunching jobs to a creative team member and administrative jobs to team members who are good at innovating. One of the key techniques of building a good team is to get the best out of everyone by giving them jobs that are suited to their skill base.
2. Create a strong feedback and follow up environment
You can lead a successful team by creating an environment where there is a transparent, continuous and uninterrupted flow of ideas and feedback. Team members should be allowed to make suggestions and you as a leader should be able to give feedback wherever you spot weak areas. You will also need to do a lot of stock taking with all your team members and pull them up whenever you think they are slacking.
3. Recognize the trouble maker in your team
A team leader’s job is not only to accomplish the common goal of the team but also safeguard the team against jeopardy by notorious team members. Every team may not be foolproof of trouble makers and you need to make sure that you recognize and appropriately deal with them before they do any damage.
4. Be a strong listener and observe your team closely
Good team leaders are looked up to and admired because they listen to the inputs that their team members have, without any bias. You could get awesome ideas from your team’s suggestions or you could spot areas in which your team needs assistance by closely observing how they function. Your listening skills should make every member feel that their voice has a place in the team.
5. Have an individual emotional connect with all your team members
An important technique in leading a strong and successful team at your workplace is to have an individual connection with every team member. Do what it takes to build a relationship with them even if it requires you to check on team members when they are unwell or remember their birthdays. You are likely to get the best of each team member only if they feel respected and well taken care of.
6. Create strong backups and contingency measures
You cannot let your team fall like a stack of cards due to a last minute oversight. A team’s strength is only as good as what it presents on the final day. Your team may have put in a lot of hard work to finish a project but it holds no value if it falls apart at the last minute. If you want to lead your team towards success, ensure that you have a well thought out backup and contingency plans in place.
