Leading a team can be tough. Managing personalities is not an easy task but leading a team with effective management skills that focus on the needs of the team will motivate, support, and engage them. Essentially, if you’re an effective team leader your team will be successful. Some benefits of running a team that’s a well-oiled machine are:
1. Employee satisfaction and reduced burnout
2. Team building
3. Increased productivity
4. Promoting learning
5. Better performance
So, how does one become a better team leader? There’s a fine line between micromanaging and being an absent leader. Here are some traits of an effective leader that we think are crucial to the success of the brand.
1. Kindness & Empathy: “You get more with honey.” People are likely to respond more positively with positivity. It’s also crucial that you empathize with your team members. Each one has a different life and different needs. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand how they operate.
2. Transparency: Being upfront and honest with your team is key. Give them all the context and information they need to get the job done right. People can see right through B.S.
3. Good communication & collaboration: Teamwork makes the dream work as they say. It’s cliché but there is truth in that saying. Clarity and collaboration will drive success for your team. Two minds are better than one. Three are better than two. You get the idea. Some may have ideas and ways of thought that others may not. Collaboration compliments innovation.
4. Feedback that goes both ways: Constructive feedback is critical not only for your members of the team but from the members about you as a leader. No one is perfect and everyone can always grow. Listening to and implementing feedback from your team about your management style can also help you become a better leader. Members also need feedback from you regularly to know if they’re completing tasks properly and promptly.
5. Leading by example: This one is big for us! “Do as I do not as I say,” goes a long way in management. Model the behavior that you want your members to embody.
6. Promoting work-life balance: Work hard but play hard too. Burnout has lasting effects on the business as a whole. Performance will suffer. Use a resource management plan to see how much workload every team member has. Promote time off when work is slower and push employees to pursue hobbies outside of the workplace.
It can take a lifetime to develop as a team leader. Some have a more natural ability to lead, while others have to work very hard at it. However, every leader can benefit from learning and growing to invest to support their employees better. A happy work environment will make people want to be there and enjoy the jobs they do for you.
