Be a great leader Team work is not an easy task, because in addition to knowing the industry in which you work, being at the head implies knowing the team, making important decisions for the good of all and staying up to date on the needs of each member.
Every team needs good management, and good leaders are obviously not born knowing how to do this job. For some, this challenge involves learning, improving, mastering, and even teaching certain qualities and skills to stay at the forefront of a team when it’s needed most.
Skills that will help you become a great leader
Today I want to share what are, from my point of view, the 9 skills that will help you become a great team leader:
Show passion for your work
The most successful leaders are those who love what they do. It is of great importance that all members of the group share a common purpose, understand what they are doing and why. Teams should feel driven by the trust you place in each member and your knowledge of the industry. Once this is generated, the probability of getting the best results is greatly increased.
Delegate wisely
Not delegating correctly and strategically can negatively affect both leaders and team members. By delegating tasks, the group builds skills and drives projects forward. It is very important to generate a climate of trust and union among colleagues.
Actively listen to others
Listening to the team is a sincere way to show respect and empathy for their ideas. To become a change agent, pay attention to the organization’s problems and the perspectives of other team members. Not only do you give them their place in the workspace, but together they can find solutions to the problems they will face as a group.
Value personal development
Personal development is key to professional growth, no matter where your team members are in their careers. Improving your skills not only helps you, but also your team to increase the long-term success of the company.
Evolve in learning within the field, interact with other people with the same interests and contribute new ideas, will increase the impact of your team and therefore of the organization. Similarly, pay attention to the personal goals of each member, ensuring that each one can achieve their own.
Promote strategic thinking
Strategic thinking is crucial for both your own knowledge and that of the team. It must be a priority to continue generating ideas.
Show problem solving skills
For conflict resolution, it should be your responsibility to always have some strategic advice ready to face unforeseen events at all times. Taking too long on the same issue can be exhausting, so don’t let perfectionism keep you from giving your opinion on it.
Shows high emotional intelligence
A good leader is someone who inspires and guides instead of imposing orders. This means that it is essential to show empathy with your teammates so that they feel comfortable with you in the work environment.
If you are not very clear about how your colleagues feel, try asking them directly how they feel about this or that project, what tasks they feel most comfortable with, etc. You know, like a kind of survey about them and their interests on a professional level.
Communicate effectively with your team
Lack of communication can result in poor performance or a lack of organizational clarity. Take time to learn and develop effective communication skills, and if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask for it.
Focus on team development
It is very important to motivate and train others like the leader you would have liked to have. This way you can help those around you to continue fueling their careers with useful knowledge. Sharing knowledge is just one of the many qualities of a good leader, as they not only seek their own development, but also spend time helping others grow, through training or even creating solutions to problems together. .
In short, all the qualities listed are fully developable and can be learned at any stage of your professional life. Make an effort to become the great leader that you would have liked to have at the beginning of your career, and above all, the one that you feel you need right now.
Christian Patino Christian Patiño is the CEO and co-founder of Coderhouse, a digital learning platform. He studied business administration at UADE, in Argentina, and later collaborated at Accenture. He founded Coderhouse in 2013, where he has focused on fostering the most demanded skills in the market through a dynamic learning model, promoting entrepreneurship in the Latin American region.