Let’s face it; being a successful team leader is not easy. There is a lot that goes into the matrix that makes a successful team leader. For starters, you have to master balancing work relationships with meeting deadlines and achieving goals. Besides, being a team leader means walking on the difficult, but fine boundary line between friendship and authority. 

Leading your team to success makes the mark of a successful leader. Here you will find a list of character traits that you should follow to become a successful leader for your team. 

Becoming a successful leader by mastering time management

Why should you learn to manage your time? Everyone struggles with time management. A simple Google search on ‘time management’ generates hundreds of millions of results. The most prolific business gurus like Jim Collins and Dale Carnegie, have written extensively on time management. The common theme here is that time management helps improve an aspect of your life. Hence, if you do not have a handle on your time, it is a good idea to start practicing time management techniques right now. 

Time can be tracked in a way that makes you more productive, so you can also get the most done in less time. Freelance time tracking software is developed for people who are committed to regaining control over their time. It is a matter of identifying what you are doing now and tracking how long you take to complete the task. That way, you can evaluate your current practice and see if you need to change your habits. Besides, time tracking also allows you to identify your peak productivity time. 

How to be a great leader for your team?

In the most basic form, here is everything you need to become a great leader. 

1. Self-confidence

For most wannabe team leaders, self-confidence or the lack of it is a significant issue. If you do not have confidence in yourself, how can your team have confidence in your leadership? It is essential to continue to grow. Hence, practice self-confidence building as it’s incredibly beneficial in improving your life. And remember there is a fine line between self-confidence and arrogance. 

2. Listen effectively

In today’s high tech, high-stress world, communication is more critical than ever. Active listening is all about fully concentrating on what is said rather than absorbing what people are saying passively. This listening will help you build relationships with your team. It is not just about remembering the content but understanding the complete message. 

3. Be decisive 

People who are in leadership positions are usually caught up in the desire to make the right decisions that they end up not deciding at all. You cannot become a successful team leader if you second guess yourself or back-away from making decisions. When you commit to a decision, you are making a statement, which your team will notice. Learning to be decisive takes a lot of effort and commitment. 

4. Problem-solving

In your workplace, problems will always keep mounting on you. If you fail to address each problem properly, you will continuously get caught up in a never-ending cycle that makes it difficult to find any resolution. There are many effective ways to problem-solving, which can lead to growth and opportunity. Each problem you solve should teach you something new. 

5. Be flexible

Flexibility is the ability to adjust to short-term change. When you are flexible in your workplace, you can deal with unforeseen challenges. It involves maintaining an open and team-centered attitude, as well as retaining a strong sense of identifying and purpose. 

6. Time management

Stellar time management is what makes team leadership, not everyone’s cup of tea. As with any habit of highly successful people, time management will take some time before you can master the skill. Time management is not about math or operation scheduling, but the consciousness that can change your life for the better.  

7. Relationship building

Relationships lie at the heart of successful and effective teamwork. To become a successful team leader, you need to strike a balance between competing aims and value. In other words, you need to learn to foster a sense of security for your team members and challenging them to try different approaches. 

8. Lead by example

As a team leader, you can choose not to play by the same rules as your teammates. But why would you do that? If you want to succeed as a team leader, then you should lead by example. Leading by example sets the right tone for those who are at a lower level in your team, who are closely watching and following your behavior. 

Conclusion

Teamwork is essential to the success of any business or organization. Business managers set up teams to perform strategic tasks and tackle new challenges because they pull together knowledge and experience. Leading an effective team requires an abstract commitment to teamwork and input of your managerial skills. When you practice the elements of effective teamwork, you can build and maintain a high-performing team.

Author’s BIO: Lori Wade is a journalist from Louisville. She is a content writer who has experience in small editions, Lori is now engaged in news and conceptual articles on the topic of business. If you are interested in an entrepreneur or lifestyle, you can find her on Twitter & LinkedIn. She has good experience and knowledge in the field.  

Featured image: Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-looking-at-laptop-computer-1595391/

Author: Mandy Kloppers

Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.