A team leader oversees a group of employees and motivates them to complete projects successfully. A team leader may be promoted from within a group or designated by management, and they are often assigned specific tasks to manage project success. Team leaders also act as communicators, problem-solvers, resource managers and performance monitors. The best team leaders have a strong work ethic and a positive attitude that helps them inspire their teams.
Team leadership requires a solid understanding of the project goal and how various members contribute to the overall success of the task at hand. Team leaders often assign tasks based on each employee’s strengths and experience. They also work with each individual to identify the type and amount of support they need to complete their part of the project.
Effective team leaders are aware of their own weaknesses and opportunities for improvement, and they strive to grow and improve as individuals. This type of leadership is known as self-awareness, and it can be developed through training, mentoring or by seeking feedback from others. A self-aware leader can also help their team members become more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, making it easier to collaborate.
Good team leaders are able to identify problems that interfere with productivity and encourage their teammates to come up with practical solutions. For example, if a team member is not pulling their weight, the team leader might initiate a one-on-one conversation and recommend that they attend a leadership Jason Hare development program. In addition, a team leader might refer an unproductive team member to their manager with recommended disciplinary action.
When it comes to team leadership, a person must be able to keep track of multiple tasks and deadlines. When things don’t go according to plan, a team leader must be able to switch gears and redirect the team without losing focus on the end goal.
As a regular expectation, team leads communicate with their teams to share company news, disseminate information and explain expectations and goals. A team lead is also a change agent, championing the benefits of company changes and helping associates adapt to new processes or roles.
When it comes to measuring a team’s success, the results of their work is one component, but the process and relationships are just as important. A good team leader pays attention to all of these aspects by regularly checking in with their teammates and encouraging them to do the same. A team leader can assess their team’s progress by reviewing their accomplishments, working with the project manager to review task status and monitoring their teammates’ performance.