It doesn’t matter whether you’re the head of the home, the head of a church department, or the head of a team at a multinational: the essentials of leadership are the same. When a team fails, the team leader has failed, and when a team succeeds, it’s a notch on his belt.
Here are 6 things to keep in mind when it comes to leading your team, no matter how small or big:
1. The people you manage/lead are your most important resources. Treat them as such. Take time out of your day to look at their faces.
2. Be someone your subordinates can look up to. Young executives and team members need role models. Be the best example of leadership because the ideal they will come to accept and aspire to is the one you model for them.
3. Don’t rule your team by fear. Where your people follow you and do what you say out of fear of being sanctioned or losing their jobs, it is not hard to picture the negativity, fear and lack of motivation such a leadership style perpetuates. Instead, inspire loyalty and team spirit.
4. The successful leader is one who knows how to develop his people so he doesn’t have to do all the work himself. If you lack devoted, hardworking talent and you find yourself having to do most of the work, the solution is training. Recognizing the importance of staff training, and carving out time and resources to get it done is key to the success of any organization/institution.
5. As a leader, your job is not to do all the work yourself, neither is it to sit back and wait to catch your team members doing something wrong. A true leader rolls up her sleeves and helps her people win because she knows that their victory is her victory.
6. When it comes to leadership styles, you set yourself up for success when you adapt your style to each team member instead of a “one size fits all” approach. For instance, there are people who like to be praised openly, while others would rather be commended privately. Some need you to direct them and give them specific tasks while others prefer to be left alone to make things happen and will ask for help if they need it. Adapt your style to the individual.
Every person on your team has the potential to perform maximally, you just need to meet them where they are and bring out the best in them. With authentic leadership, you can build a winning team.
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