2012-05-16

Six key contributors to successful team leadership

Drake Editorial Team

Leading teams is challenging but in truth, certain ‘contributors’ can result in you being a more successful team leader. So what are the six key contributors to successful team leadership?

 

1: Relevant and meaningful purpose and goals
Teams that prosper need to have a clear purpose which is meaningful to them and matters to them. Additionally, they need to have goals that act as milestones or checkpoints along the way. Successful teams will be passionate and enthusiastic about what they want to achieve and will get behind a goal if it is meaningful. Ask yourself what the team is trying to create, the reputation it wants to have and the results it wants to achieve. As the leader, get clear on the role you want to play, your style of operating and how you want to be seen by your team.

2: Confidence and commitment building
As the leader of the team you need to build the confidence and commitment of individuals in the team. Part of your role here is to create an environment where people are encouraged and supported to take risks. How you respond to setbacks will be an excellent indicator of how well you do this. Another part is providing meaningful feedback on the good and not so good things.

3: Skill mix
In your capacity as team leader, you have a role to play in getting the right skills in place and then continually strengthening these skills. The team does not operate in a static environment so you need to adapt to changing circumstances. People will only adapt if they have the skills to do so.

4: Relationship management
The team you are leading might be totally motivated and be full of belief. However, you cannot expect that to be replicated throughout the organization. People will be envious and may even try to derail your efforts. It is important that you, as the team leader, create good relationships outside of the team and leverage these relationships to overcome obstacles.

5: Opportunity creation
As team leader you could decide to personally take all of the best opportunities that come up. Successful leaders know that it is important not just to think about their own situation but also to look at creating opportunities for others to learn, grow and develop.

6: Do the work
Teams are generally small in size so there is no space for people who distance themselves. Team leaders who are successful don't sit in an ivory tower dishing out instructions. They get involved and do real work rather than watching in the wings.

Bottom line - By focusing on some key contributors you can make a step change in your performance as a team leader. So what's your next step?

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Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements (G&A) works with professionals, teams and organisations to develop their management and leadership capability. With 25 years business experience in a range of sectors, he understands firsthand the real challenges of managing and leading in the demanding business world. www.goalsandachievements.co.uk