To effectively lead a team, you need several important qualities and skills. Without it, it will be difficult to bring your people together and do what they do best – which can cost your company and your career.
Whether you are an ambitious manager, a newly appointed CEO with little experience, or an experienced CEO struggling to oversee your team, developing these essential skills will be critical to your success.
Here are reasons why leadership is important in a team.
Communication:
Being a strong leader means mastering the art of communication. To reach the managerial level, you will definitely show a certain level of ability for it; But to differentiate yourself as a leader, you need to make sure that truly effective communication is at the heart of everything you do.
Availability:
As an integral part of your team, you must be an ever-present team member, a presence at the center of everything you do.
Depending on the demands of your job, there will always be times when you won’t be there physically, but it’s very important for your team to know that you are available and that they are available to know that it is yours. Have regular one-on-one meetings and exchanges with your team, invest time in their development, and most importantly, develop a culture of openness and accessibility that fosters trust and respect throughout the team.
Stay constant:
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way,” said John C. Maxwell, a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, coach and speaker who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership. He is the founder of The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team and EQUIP, a nonprofit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 180 countries. His books have sold millions of copies, with some on the New York Times Best Seller List.
Everyone has bad days – days when they feel tired, unmotivated, or distracted. Except for the actual leader, of course. Your team is counting on you to be measured and consistent in your role. That specifically means setting standards your team can trust and rely on. Your team needs to know they can trust you and what is expected of you to get the most out of your performance.
Organization:
From meetings to rehearsals to team projects, you need to know what’s going on, who’s doing what, and how to take the next step before someone else does. Not only that, but when operations are running smoothly and everyone knows their responsibilities, you need to develop solid policies for others to follow.
Delegation:
Delegating is a task anyone can do. But delegating effectively and influentially is an art that only the most effective team leaders can master.
Delegating work isn’t about delegating things you don’t want to do — it’s about reducing your own workload to make sure the right people do the right jobs while empowering team members.
Jonathan Bloomberg Toronto is co-founder of BloombergSen and a successful leader who has been very active in helping new leaders to achieve success. Prior to BloombergSen, Jonathan Bloomberg Toronto worked for over six years in the investment department of Burgundy Asset Management, first as an investment analyst and later as a Vice President.
