The role of leadership remains vital for all businesses. Regardless of the size of the team, the success of a team starts with the leader, the one who sets the standards. However, the size of the team can affect the functioning of a business. A small team can be relatively easy to manage as there are usually shared goals, and objectives and a smaller demand for the leader to take the helm. A large team entails a much bigger demand on the leader in terms of management style, priorities and their need to adapt. Many researchers demonstrate that by enhancing the working environment in which decisions are made, leaders can increase the likelihood of positive outcomes. Below are the most powerful habits that you can use on how to lead a team of 20, and to steer your team to success.

Set Standards.

Organizational standards or values are drafted by a company for a reason. But as time goes by, sometimes those standards can be overlooked or neglected as businesses grow and priority changes. As your team increases, it is essential to focus on the company’s attitude and motivating factors. Remember to reinforce organizational vision and values. Get your strategy in place and use that as a road map for how to grow the team.

Learn to Build Connections.

Cultivating team spirit helps improve the chemistry of a group and increase the probability of success. Build an environment of fun and enjoyment. Team-building activities like training and development programs, as well as brainstorming and idealization sessions, can help a team relax and understand each other and work well together. Fun is the element that allows people to make it through difficult tasks and overwhelming deadlines, and the best leaders know how to make it work without compromising the team’s work ethic or commitment to excellence.

Know the Importance of Delegation and Accountability.

When you delegate tasks, you create followers. When you delegate authority, you create leaders. Now that you are managing a larger team, your time and resources are likely to be stretched thin. You are responsible for a large group of people and projects, each with their own set of priorities, which can be hard to juggle. Be willing to delegate tasks to members of your team that are capable, and have the time and space, to absorb them. As a leader, it’s important to emphasize an adherence to targets and forecasted growth. Hold timely catchups with your team to increase accountability and track your course of progress.

Things to remember when delegating:

  • Recognizing the right person, as picking the wrong person causes a major failure.
  • Compare the required skill set and the skill set of the person whom you are willing to assign
  • Choose the real talent based on the objective criteria.
  • Discuss and have open communication with the team on the roles and responsibilities

Drive Better Communication.

Building strong communication channels across all levels of the organization is at the heart of being able to manage a large team. This can be achieved by driving familiarity between colleagues in the team, as well as with senior leaders. Focus on understanding your team, their strengths and weaknesses; the familiarity will also help you identify candidates with potential.

Recommendation and rewards.

Recognizing and rewarding the right talents at the right place at the right time is vital for a successful leader. Retaining talents is one of the main objectives of a good team leader. The reward doesn’t always need to be monetary – it can just be an appreciation through an email or an appreciation in a team meeting. Recognizing and rewarding success elevates the team morale. Successful leaders know that it is important to be open, honest and unbiased while recognizing and rewarding the team members.

Leading by Example.

Lead with conviction, and lead ‘by example’. Leading by example may sound cliché and easy but leaders who wish to be successful must be consistent with this. Practising what one preaches can be difficult, particularly for new leaders.

Be accessible and available.

Part of being a leader involves being there for your team. If they have a question or need advice, make sure it’s easy for them to be able to gain access to you. With mobile email and cell phones, there is no reason your team shouldn’t be able to get in touch with you when they need to.

Ask for Feedback.

A manager needs to retrieve feedback from colleagues, to understand how they have absorbed the message and what effect it has had on their working style. Ineffective communication can lead to a lack of coordination, which can be a liability for a business. Any leader should be open to feedback, both from those at the top and those who report to managers. It is a vital part of professional improvement and this does not stop when you reach the upper management positions.

Earn their respect and give them yours.

The way to a successful larger team is to show them respect and give them reason to respect you. Mutual respect is critical to any team, so set an example by treating everyone you encounter with respect.

 

Learn more about leadership and team management

Want to learn more about team and leadership management? Please get in touch today with Priority Management Australia.

 

 

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