What defines a great leader?
It can be a difficult role as it requires you to achieve the balance between guiding a team towards its goals and still maintaining the authority required to do so.
A great team leader is a team player. They’ve learnt how to motivate their team and set examples on how to operate via the way that they conduct themselves. They can guide their team and show them what can be accomplished when everyone works together.
One of the key roles for a leader is the responsibility of developing their team members to make the best decisions for the collective goals. Figuring out how to empower them can be done in several ways.
Help them find meaning in their work.
If you communicate clearly to your team the vision and mission you are trying to achieve and how their role fits into the pathway you can help them find meaning in the tasks that they undertake daily. By recognizing the input, appreciating the work they do and acknowledging them you will find that they will align themselves with the standards you set for performance.
Meet your team’s needs.
Listen to their concerns, thoughts, and ideas. Schedule regular team meetings and check in with them and ask how they are doing and listen to their response. Make sure you are cultivating an environment where they are comfortable to share and provide them with solutions. If they are having difficulty and need more training, help them level up their own development.
Match your team’s energy.
If you want your team to work hard, be prepared to roll up your sleeves and do the same. Lead by example and make sure your work and work ethic are of the highest possible standard. Your team will follow what you do, not what you say.
So, what do you do within your teams to inspire excellence?