When it comes to business, strong teams are an important building block to an organization’s success. It is the collaborative efforts of a team that lead to innovation, progress, and growth within a company. However, even teams comprised of the most talented employees still need leaders that can offer guidance, provide training, and drive results. While the skills necessary to lead may take time to develop, they can be learned with the right amount of practice and patience. The following are fundamental elements to leading a strong team.
Capitalize on Individual Strengths Not all members of a team will necessarily have the skills to complete all tasks. To produce the best results, assign tasks based on the strengths that your team members do have. Some might be more technical and detail-oriented, while others may be better at idea creation and broad thinking. Leverage these strengths in a way that will produce the most impact. There is no point focusing on weaknesses when your team collectively possesses all the skills needed to succeed.
Set Standards for Cooperation and Respect In order for a team to function at the highest level possible, members must respect one another and understand how to cooperate. From the start, establish these as values to be followed. All team members should know that their voices will be heard and that input and ideas are crucial to moving forward. Any member that does not respect or cooperate with others is disrupting progress, and his or her value to the team should be reassessed.
Keep Communication Open Encourage team members to keep each other – and you – informed at all times. There really is no such thing as too much communication. When people are left out on important emails or not updated on what progress has been made, tasks may be repeated unnecessarily. Furthermore, if members know about all aspects of the project, there is opportunity to contribute ideas and tactics that may improve the overall result.
Leverage Competitiveness While a collaborative atmosphere is necessary for results, competitiveness – if leveraged properly – can actually help drive results as well. Competition should be encouraged, not between team members, but between teams or between a team and its past results. This will provide a little extra motivation, increasing efficiency and productivity. It will make people more engaged and excited about the work they are doing.
These strategies are invaluable to building a strong team. By sticking to them, you will not only find yourself driving results for your business, but becoming a more effective leader and stronger woman in business.
This article was written by Dale Carnegie Training, a company founded in 1912 by one of America’s most influential speakers and leaders. Today, the company offers corporate training, and helps both businesses and individuals achieve their goals. Visit Dale Carnegie online today to learn more about management training programs.