How to Be a Successful Team Leader

Today’s post is by Lindsay Traiman of Dale Carnegie Training.

No matter what industry you work in, we all want our teams, departments, and ultimately our entire company to be successful. Each team has an important role to fulfill that is imperative to a company’s success, and it truly takes the right pieces of the puzzle to make the masterpiece that is a great team.

Each member of the team plays a vital role, but the leader of a team has an important responsibility to guide, motivate and inspire others. The most successful businesses and organizations can attribute their accomplishments to effective leadership and teamwork.

Whether you are a manager or team member, it is important to have leadership training and develop the necessary skills to be a good leader. There are several fundamental skills that need to be acquired which include the following:

Effective Communication — Communication is the key to many interactions in life, especially in business. Whether the communication is via email or in person, without effective, clear communication, businesses cannot run smoothly and efficiently. Leaders must find a way to open the lines of communication throughout their entire team. Find ways to increase mutual understanding and to break down potential barriers that could stand in the way of the lines of communication, and don’t be afraid to facilitate the interaction of diverse personalities within the team.

It is also important to remember that listening plays a huge role in effective communication. Allow each member to have a voice and listen to what team members have to say. Remember: each member of the team has a right to question the process, add input, and evaluate the team’s progress.

Respectfulness – In business you are bound to encounter differences in attitudes, personalities, skills and values within people you work with and customers as well. A good leader must be able to respect these differences in others while exhibiting and demanding a mutual respect for everyone within the company.

Ability to Recognize and Utilize Strengths – Each member of a team was chosen by the company for a specific reason. It is important for leaders to be able to recognize and identify these strengths and to capitalize on them to improve the overall performance of the team. This needs to be a continuous process in order to constantly improve the team. Try to figure out how to perfectly blend together the strengths of each individual team member and combine them to complement each other and ultimately form an extremely strong team.

Motivational Skills – It is normal for people to lose focus or motivation at times. It is important that leaders know how to pinpoint the cause so that they can effectively assist and encourage the team to get them past the slump. Whether it is a lack of vision, confidence, or training that is causing someone to underperform or to lack drive, as a leader, you must know how to find a way to get the best out of everyone on your team.

Ability to Lead by Example – There is no easier way to show your team how to reach new heights and achieve goals than by reflecting this attitude through your own actions. When you lead by example, you become an authority figure and send an important message to everyone at your company that will ultimately inspire results.

Vince Lombardi once said “leaders are made, they are not born.” Being a great leader is a real challenge; however, it is a necessary role because leaders are truly the foundations of successful businesses. Help unite your team and influence them to succeed by utilizing your leadership skills.

– Dale Carnegie Training was founded in 1912 by one of America’s most influential speakers and leaders, known for his best-selling book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Today the company continues to provide leadership training that result in success. Visit www.DaleCarnegie.com to learn more about business and self-improvement training courses.

Photo: Geese flying north by Andy Hay