Every excellent team has a team leader, even if the word “team” may not contain the letter “i.” From daily operations to making sure their team members are given the greatest assistance possible to reach their objectives, team leaders are in charge of everything.
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It might be a little difficult to understand the duties of a team leader and how they differ from those of a project manager, depending on the structure of your organization. This article discusses what a team leader is and isn’t, as well as ten suggestions for being an excellent team leader.
A team leader: what is it?
A team leader is in charge of leading a group of individuals during a given project or in the direction of a predetermined objective. These positions are frequently distinct from those of people management, hence team leaders are not always team managers. In particular, the team leader is in charge of establishing a cooperative work atmosphere and choosing the course of a certain project or program.
A working group receives direction and instruction on a project or portfolio of projects from the team leader. They are responsible for assigning tasks, monitoring team members’ progress toward objectives, and providing necessary coaching. Despite not having a manager designation, team leads frequently operate as the team’s de facto mentors.
What is the role of a team leader?
A project, program, or portfolio of programs are examples of the specific body of work that a team leader is in charge of.
The primary duties of a team leader include:
Setting up the work
Sharing objectives
Linking work to context
Task delegation
Setting an example
Resource allocation and management
Solving problems
Monitoring the progress of a project
Informing stakeholders on developments
Enhancing team members’ skill sets through coaching
Encouraging teammates to achieve their objectives
highlighting each team member’s strengths and pinpointing opportunities for development
Speaking out and promoting the needs of the team
Project manager versus team leader
The abilities of a team leader and project managers frequently overlap. This is typical; on many teams, the project manager and team leader are the same person.
Focusing on the individual’s objectives is the most effective technique to consider the difference. Motivating and encouraging team members to do quality work is the aim of a team leader. A project manager is frequently more concerned with activities and deliverables that must be completed.
Five essential team leader competencies
A competent team leader can effectively manage and communicate with their team, regardless of the kind of project they are managing. The following ten abilities can help you get started:
1. Management of goals
Answering the question, “Why does this work matter?” is one of the most beneficial things a team lead can do.
Every project advances a team or corporate objective, yet objectives are frequently divorced from day-to-day operations. Team members are less driven to produce quality work when they are unaware of the objectives that their effort serves.
In order for team members to comprehend the significance of their job and how it fits into the overall corporate goal, effective team leaders provide them context. Team members may better prioritize jobs and make sure they do their most impactful work at the appropriate time with that context.
2. Proceeding with the work
Once your team is aware of the objectives they are supporting, they also want a clear means of visualizing how they plan to achieve those objectives. Consider yourself the captain of the ship as the team leader, in charge of guiding the group to your target and determining the best route to get there.
Three key components are necessary to guarantee that work proceeds efficiently:
Make metrics clear. Without a clear understanding of their goals, team members are unable to determine if they are headed in the correct direction. Therefore, before you begin, establish SMART goals to specify how you will determine success and develop quantifiable objectives.
Monitor your progress. Knowing where you are in regard to your objective is just as important as knowing where you are heading. Ensure that your team members can easily view the project timetable and know who is responsible for what by when.
Share updates. It is also your duty as the team lead to keep an eye on developments and communicate them to the project team and any pertinent parties. Project status reports, which clearly show your team if your project is on track, at risk, or off track, are the best method to do this.
3. Interaction
Team leads require outstanding communication abilities, just like any other leadership role. This include keeping project stakeholders informed about developments, discussing work with team members, and liaising with any cross-functional partners on behalf of the project team. Notably, both verbal and nonverbal communication are a part of communication. In actuality, facial expressions and body language play a big role in communicating.
Crucial components of communication consist of:
1:1 or in-person interactions
Asynchronous correspondence
Communication without words
Developing a relationship
Providing comments
Similar to active listening, effective listening
Resolving conflicts
Communication is one of the interpersonal skills that takes time to master. If you’re not good at communicating right now, don’t worry. A communication strategy is a fantastic place to start if you’re just learning how to establish rapport. A communication plan is a blueprint that outlines what should be conveyed at what times, such as during weekly team meetings and asynchronous events in your project management platform.
4. Structure
Although project managers are frequently team leaders, you are still in charge of planning your team’s work even if you are not one. Being organized is essential to achieving the final goal or aim that you are leading your team towards as a team leader.
Information organization can be compared to the creation of a single source of truth. You must be dependable and trustworthy enough to provide your team with the information they want.
Using a work management solution like Asana is the greatest approach to create a fantastic organizing structure for your whole team. Asana facilitates task tracking, project management, and goal progress sharing. Everyone is empowered to accomplish their best job when they know exactly who is doing what and by when.
5. Assigning
The most effective team leaders are aware that they cannot accomplish everything alone. Another important aspect of team leadership is the idea that the whole is better than the sum of its parts. A crucial component of coaching and mentoring is delegation. Delegating allows team members to test out new skill sets in addition to freeing up your time.
You must first comprehend the interests, shortcomings, and talents of every team member before you can assign tasks efficiently. In this manner, you may determine what new talents they are most interested in acquiring and what you should send their way. Delegating is learning to let go and giving your team members the reigns, so keep in mind that the people you assign tasks to could do things differently than you would have.
Make an Eisenhower Matrix if you struggle with job delegation. Or, if in doubt, use this simple four-step procedure:
Determine which tasks can be assigned.
Make significance and urgency clear so that team members may set priorities.
Give any necessary instruction.
Have faith, but double-check.