Sometimes, you need more than just one brain in order to make things happen. Especially if there are time constraints. That's why many businesses turn to developing teams. With the guidance and assistance from the many members, tasks can be accomplished within the desired timeframe and also to a better or higher standard. But for this to happen, it's imperative that all the team members are truly compatible with each other which will avoid any hold ups or stumbling blocks due to unnecessary complex or simple misunderstanding. In other words, everyone needs to be on the same page.

And though it's nice to think in terms of democracy throughout the team, in reality, members will need guidance and leadership. This is the role of the team leader. His job is to help maintain his team's focus on the task ahead, but also extract the best from each and every member. In some way, he needs to be both firm but also inspirational. This is because it's important that all team members are comfortable going to the team leader for guidance. To that end, the team leader will need to be a role model for the team as a whole.

Ensure The Correct Job For The Correct person

In all business setups, teams are formed for a singular purpose. And though it may be management who set the goals and objectives of the business, it’s the team leader's job to translate those into tasks for the team itself. Keep in mind that it's not the team leader's job to set these goals as such. This is because a dictatorial approach is counterintuitive. What's best is to invite suggestions from all the team and have open discussions which will, in a natural course, lead to the goals and objectives becoming clear for everyone. Another important aspect of team leadership is that he must understand the particular specialisations and skills of each of his team members to be able to assign the correct task to them. In this manner they are happy to accept work which falls within their spectrum of knowledge. One of the worst things a team leader can do is to pose a type of work on a team member who lacks the qualifications to deal with it.

Keep Your Distance

It's only natural that in the real world we are drawn to some people more than others. After all, we cannot be friends with everyone. But in the workplace, the team leader needs to remain absolutely impartial. He needs to support each team member equally. Any form of partiality will lead to conflict and negativity amongst the team members. You must also spend time to motivate those on your team. So he should take great pains to avoid any sort of criticism. That includes making fun of someone for their mistakes or belittling a team member. If you want to gain respect from a team member, then you must be respectful yourself.

Positive Vibes

It's important to create a workplace with a positive ambience. Part of this is by encouraging all the team members to help each other. Never play office politics, and always ensure that the members of the team do not become hostile towards each other. If there is conflict, then your job is to defuse it as fast as possible. This means listening and treating each party equally before coming to any conclusions. As team leader you might have to formulate a “third” approach to the issue at hand, so as to keep everyone happy.  

Share Credit

Another part of your job as team leader is the expectation you should mentor your team members. Hopefully you're qualified to be a team leader and therefore you should be able to help your team when they need to call on your talent or mentorship. This leads onto another important point. As you are a team leader, it's not enough just to lead from the front. You must stand by your team whatever. We’ve seen countless cases where a team performs well, but the team leader is quick to step in and take all the credit. Conversely when a team performs badly, then it turns out to be the fault of the team members and not their leader. As a team leader you must share any praise and criticism. Own up and be responsible for your own mistakes. And whatever you do, do not point fingers at others or play the blame game. Otherwise your job will become untenable, as no one in your team will have any respect for you.

Family Time Bonding Together

One method to bring a team closer together is to try and break the ice amongst them. This can be done at Christmas or birthdays wherever it’s possible to discuss other issues apart from work. Try to organise some picnic's or parties, especially where families can be invited, as this will allow all team members to bond. And keep in mind, the more the team bonds, the more trust they develop among themselves.

Look For Solutions

In the work situation, it's a team leader's job to keep a close eye on a team's performance. If you become aware of any drop in the quality of output, then that cannot be ignored, and you must deal with it straight away. So if you notice one particular team member is struggling or getting left behind, then you need to call them in immediately. Always ensure that your conversation is private. This is because you don't want one team member to feel insulted or less than in front of the others. When you see a team member is struggling, then don't look to have them fired or moved instantly. Rather look for a different approach Maybe by giving them another role or helping them personally. Most problems will pass, and you’ll regret losing a valuable member if you act too rashly.

Be Sympathetic

In many cases a drop of performance can often be attributed to personal problems. And, though we all know we should avoid mixing our personal lives with our work lives, we have to remain realistic to real world situations. Always have a sympathetic ear if a team member wants to discuss a personal problem with you. Do your best to try and help them. And whatever you do, keep the conversation private and never escalate it to management. 

Watch Your Own Behaviour

Finally, be sure to check yourself and your privileges periodically. We have seen many team leaders start with good intentions. And yet gradually slide down the slippery slope of believing that leadership means they can take advantage of their team members. Don't be the guy who asked them to go to buy movie tickets, to pay your car parking meter, or do your grocery shopping. As they say, the fish rots from the head down. If you do not follow the rules and regulations within your organisation then don't expect your team members to do so. At the end of the day, you will make a good team leader providing you set a good example for others. Though it might all seem like common sense to actually strike the right balance, in reality it’s not easy and will require skill, care and patience.