When you begin a new position as a team leader, it can be challenging to know how to get your team on your side.
But it is important you do so in order for your team members to accept and respect you. Without good relationships with your team, it will not be easy to maintain high productivity and employee satisfaction.
Therefore, make sure you take note of the following tips.
1. Establish Trust
Trust building is an essential first step. It begins with honesty and transparency.
You should openly share your thoughts, strategies, and expectations, but also acknowledge when you are uncertain about things.
Being willing to admit that you do not have all the answers displays humility, which is a characteristic that is important for leaders to have.
Consistency is another trust-building factor. Try as much as possible to be consistent in your words and actions. For instance, meet deadlines and keep promises. This demonstrates reliability, which is a cornerstone of trust.
Also, make sure you actively listen to your team members. The more you show them genuine interest, the sooner you can establish trust.
2. Show Genuine Concern for Team Members
Following on from the last point, being more than just task-focused can yield powerful results in terms of loyalty from team members. So, show concern for your staff. You should understand their individual skills, strengths, weaknesses, and career aspirations.
Be proactive about your team’s professional development and provide opportunities for growth wherever possible.
Equally crucial is addressing personal concerns. Everyone appreciates a leader who genuinely cares about their well-being.
3. Communicate Openly
Open lines of communication serve as lifelines within corporate teams. from leader to team members and vice versa.
Regular updates on the state of affairs for a certain project can dispel ambiguity, minimize rumors, and build a strong sense of unity among team members.
Promote an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing ideas or concerns freely. That means mindful listening is just as important as speaking.
4. Collaborate Instead of Command
A collaborative leader is often more respected than an autonomous one.
Foster collaboration by involving team members in decision-making where possible.
Brainstorming sessions can act as platforms for sharing diverse points of view and boosting creativity within your team. This participatory approach enhances ownership of the projects and tasks among the team. In turn, that can increase the team members’ commitment to successful project delivery.
5. Set Clear Goals
Clear goals provide purpose and direction for the entire team. Clearly outline what needs to be accomplished, why it is important, and who is responsible for each task. There will then be no ambiguity.
Regular reviews and adjustments can be implemented based on feedback and progress to help keep everyone focused on a common objective.
6. Lead by Example
Modeling the character traits that you wish to see in your team is powerful. People are more influenced by what they observe rather than only verbal instructions or rules posted on boards.
Things like punctuality, work ethic, optimism, and a resilient attitude during setbacks are all values that will likely inspire similar qualities in your team members.
7. Embrace Diversity
Valuing diversity is crucial. Understanding and respecting the unique contribution that each member brings to the table forms an inclusive and vibrant culture.
Recognize not just ethnic and gender differences, but also diversity in thought. Different opinions can spark innovation.
Respecting each other’s backgrounds and perspectives will embolden your team members to bring their authentic selves to work.
8. Foster a Good Team Spirit
Team spirit is a crucial element that can elevate the cohesiveness and productivity of your team.
So, arrange periodic team-building activities that facilitate interactions beyond the work context.
These activities can help your team members understand each other, and you, better and create stronger bonds.
9. Provide Constructive Feedback
Regular feedback sessions can really shift gears for your team’s efficiency.
Avoid making it a blame game. You should use the sessions constructively to identify strengths and areas of improvement.
Also, make feedback a dialogue. It should extend both ways.
10. Resolve Conflicts Promptly
In any team environment, conflicts are inevitable. Dealing with them promptly is essential.
Foster open communication around concerns and disagreements so that you can nip issues in the bud before they escalate.
Dealing with conflicts fairly without favoritism upholds integrity among your ranks.
11. Delegate Effectively
As a leader, you cannot do everything alone, so do not try to do so. Efficient delegation not only eases your load but also develops trust and capability within your team.
By assigning tasks according to individual expertise or interest levels, you create opportunities for learning and growth.
12. Encourage a Good Work-Life Balance
Promoting a healthy work-life balance should be on your radar as a team leader because when people burnout, the team cannot function effectively.
Be aware of workload levels, be flexible where possible to accommodate personal needs, and ensure your team members get adequate downtime.
Demonstrating understanding towards unexpected personal situations will also be appreciated by team members and help you to get on your team’s side.
13. Recognize Your Team Members’ Achievements
Recognition goes a long way. It is important to acknowledge the efforts of the whole team and individual team members routinely.
You could highlight individual and group feats in team meetings or send email shout-outs praising accomplishments, big or small.
You could even hold an awards ceremony to recognize the top performers. For instance, you could hand out awards made of metal each quarter to team members who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Recognizing your team’s efforts and contributions not only bolsters team morale. It can also reinforce positive behavior and increase productivity within the group.
14. Maintain Patience
Lastly, maintain patience.
Patience is often underrated in leadership but it is actually very important. Not everyone will adjust equally to changes or perform at the same pace. So, being patient with your team members during such times will positively impact your team dynamics.
Be patient with yourself, too. When starting a new position as a team leader, it can take time to get your team on your side. But by following the above sound advice, you can ensure smooth running quicker.