NAVIGATING WORK AS A TEAM LEADER
Being a team leader can be incredibly challenging at the best of times, let alone an ever-changing workplace demands brought on by the pandemic. However, a team manager quickly learns the importance of keying into their employee's strengths and identifying areas that need strengthening. With that in mind, here are some tips to keep in mind whether you are new to the role or an old hand at it.
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THE POWER OF LISTENING
You are not a spy, and this is not an espionage thriller; however, you will need to learn how to listen well and pay attention to detail to organize and execute projects in the present and plan how to tackle challenges in the future.
The key approach is taking time to listen to what your employees are saying whether it's in meetings or with individual projects. Take your employee's suggestions seriously and learn to view a suggestion you disagree with as a moment to evaluate what is and isn't working. Their suggestion may not always be the right solution, but it is a critical indicator that something isn't working. By taking it seriously, you and your team can brainstorm a better solution. Listening not only works for challenges such as interpersonal communication but also for planning and executing projects and foreseeing challenges that can arise in the future. Clear, direct communication with help you build trust between each other, making for a smoother and more fun workplace environment.
AN EFFECTIVE TEAM IS A CONNECTED TEAM
A project is not a heist, but it may need a team of people with a particular set of skills to get from idea to fruition. And, like any good heist team, clear communication, understanding, and respecting each other's skills and roles results in an effective and happy team.
Nothing makes work more tiresome than team members who are always antsy and on edge, or worse yet, excluded from things in the workplace. As a manager, you can help your team build connections with each other by leading by example. Treat everyone with respect, and your team will learn to do the same thing. Take time to get to know members of your team, they may not be your new bestie, but by creating meaningful connections at work, you show your team how to take care and listen to each other. Doing so makes for a tension-free work dynamic, which is especially important when facing challenging deadlines and heavy workloads.
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ALWAYS PLAN, ALWAYS PREPARE
Admit it, you probably made fun of a prepper at least once in the past, but if the 2020 - 2021 pandemic has taught as anything, it is that maybe they were right to prepare for the worst. As a manager, planning and guiding the team is one of your responsibilities. It requires meticulously approaching your research and preparation so that you can guide your team in the best way possible. For example, with proper preparation and research, choosing the best employee for a particular project or recommending a colleague or client becomes much easier.
Not all projects work out as desired, but doing your groundwork means you will have a plan in mind if things get tough or if you are forced to, you can withdraw gracefully rather than having everything collapse suddenly.
IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS
Something is festering in your territory. A lone stranger rides’ into town and takes care of it; that is the plot of a movie, not your workplace. Something is bound to go wrong at some point at work. That is just how life works. No matter how meticulously you plan for all eventualities, something that you couldn't have predicted will spring up. How fast you address the situation can be the difference between a minor problem and a team, or even a company destroying issue.
As a manager, you will have to take the initiative and gather information and support from your colleagues, higher-ups, or other departments such as HR, Billing, or Budget, or others who have a better grasp of the situation. Do so carefully and decisively before the situation gets out of hand.
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TAKE IT LIKE A CHAMPION
A good winner is a winner who knows how to fail graciously, not someone who has never lost. Inevitably, a project or suggestion you make will go topsy turvy, wasting all your time, energy, and even money. You will be called in to answer to your boss, your team members, or both. Instead of getting defensive, take the time to analyze what went wrong and why you failed.
When called on to speak, don't get defensive. Instead, present what you have learned to form the situation, and open yourself up for feedback. Hearing what you did wrong from others can be painful, but learning how to ask for feedback and then implement what you have learned is an essential skill for everyone. Master this, and you will be a true champion at work, one who knows how to recover from a setback and get back in the ring.
