By Jillian Dearing
As a manager, it's your job to be the glue that holds your company together in the complex web of organizational dynamics. In this article, we'll explore the seven essential leadership traits that set great managers apart and show how to promote successful team management.
Traits of a good team leader
1. Strong communication skills
Communication is the foundation of good leadership. A manager who has excellent communication skills can clearly express company goals, instill confidence, and promote an atmosphere of candid discussion. Poor communication, however, can result in misconceptions, confusion, and division among team members. It's important that managers engage in communication training, encourage active listening, and provide a transparent and constructive feedback culture.
Positives: Clear communication promotes cooperation, trust, and clarity among team members. Effective communicators set clear objectives, listen intently to their team, and offer helpful criticism.
Negatives: Poor communication creates misconceptions and uncertainty among team members. Miscommunicated expectations can lead to problems within an organization, such as missed deadlines.
Be a better communicator: Hold frequent team meetings, encourage candid communication among team members, and provide employees with communication training.
2. Emotional intelligence and empathy
Empathy is the glue that holds members of a team together by promoting a sense of understanding and belonging. Managers who have high emotional intelligence are adept at navigating complicated interpersonal dynamics, settling disputes, and fostering trust. A lack of empathy, however, can plant seeds of discontent, creating a negative atmosphere and causing team turnover. Managers should prioritize active listening, take part in empathy-building activities, and be a compassionate and understanding example for others.
Positives: Caring supervisors create a positive work culture by being aware of team members' viewpoints, difficulties, and feelings. They are able to inspire team members, resolve issues amicably, and cultivate enduring interpersonal bonds.
Negatives: Managers who lack empathy may find it difficult to relate to their staff, which causes low morale, high employee turnover, and disengagement. Tensions can rise and productivity can be hampered when conflicts are handled in an insensitive way.
Be an empathetic leader: Promote empathy in the workplace by organizing team-building activities, holding emotional intelligence-focused leadership courses, and engaging in frequent self-reflection activities to understand the perspectives of others.
3. Flexibility and adaptability
Adaptability is a highly valued quality in fast-paced work environments that allows managers to guide their teams through challenges with agility and resilience. Adaptable managers welcome change as a chance for development and encourage creativity and innovation among their staff members. On the other hand, a strict adherence to antiquated practices will hamper creativity and advancement. Managers should promote a culture of experimentation and offer opportunities for skill development.
Positives: Agile managers welcome innovation and are able to adjust and lead teams through shifting conditions. When there's change they maintain an open mind, make necessary strategy adjustments, and instill confidence in others.
Negatives: Stubborn managers stifle team creativity by refusing to adapt. This can hinder development, drive team members away, and result in lost opportunities.
How to be more flexible: Encourage experimentation, recognize other viewpoints, and provide resources for continuous learning and skill development that cultivate an adaptable culture.
4. Being decisive and accountable
In the face of uncertainty, decisiveness serves as a compass that steers teams toward their objectives by fostering clarity and confidence. Decisive managers make prompt, well-informed judgments that enable their staff to act with conviction and purpose. On the flip side, being unsure of oneself and hesitant to act can cause delays and lead to loss of trust. Managers can improve their decision-making by asking team members for their opinions and creating an atmosphere that values accountability.
Positives: Good managers promote clarity and confidence in their staff by making prompt, well-informed judgments. They accept responsibility for results, hold others and themselves accountable, and proactively deal with problems.
Negatives: Indecisive bosses who don't accept responsibility damage the confidence and unity of the team.
Be a decisive leader: Create a decision-making framework that provides managers the freedom to take measured risks, and set forth explicit guidelines for responsibility at all organizational levels.
5. Forward thinking
Visionary leaders are able to energize and excite their team by presenting a compelling future vision. A team that is united through a common objective can better achieve its goals. On the flip side, teams proceeding without a clear vision don't know where they're going and end up feeling disengaged.
Positives: Visionary leaders set a clear course of action, which encourages creativity, allowing team members the freedom to make significant contributions.
Negatives: Managers who lack a clear vision may find it difficult to motivate their staff and align their efforts to a common goal. Progress is hampered by a lack of direction due to disengagement and a lack of focus.
Be a forward-thinking leader: Articulate a compelling vision, constantly seek feedback from your team, and set an example by acting consistently and in line with the company's values.
6. Stress management and resilience
By facing difficulties head-on, resilient managers instill stability and confidence in their teams. They encourage a culture of well-being and tenacity by emphasizing self-care and providing examples of healthy coping strategies. Giving in to stress, however, can result in toxic team dynamics and burnout. Managers can help employees develop resilience by offering stress-reduction tools, encouraging work-life balance, and creating a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels appreciated and supported.
Positives: Managers who are resilient maintain their composure when there are problems. They put self-care first, utilize constructive coping techniques, and offer encouragement to those who may be facing obstacles.
Negatives: Stressed-out managers behave erratically, make bad decisions, and become burned out, which can harm team morale and performance. Their inability to control their stress creates a difficult workplace.
Be a better leader: Offer tools for stress management education, promote work-life harmony, and cultivate a friendly environment where team members feel comfortable asking for assistance.
7. Delegation and empowerment
A team's potential can only be fully realized through empowerment, which promotes a climate of independence, accountability, and creativity. Effective task delegation is a sign of a manager who trusts their team members to take initiative and contribute significantly. On the other hand, micromanagement undermines trust and stifles innovation, which is detrimental to both teamwork and personal development.
Positives: Managers who trust their staff, assign work efficiently, and promote a culture of self-governance and accountability give their staff the confidence to take charge, grow as people, and contribute to the overall success of the group.
Negatives: Micromanaging staff stunts professional development, destroys trust, and limits innovation. An unwillingness to delegate tasks causes discontent and disengagement among team members.
Be a better leader: Delegate and promote a culture that values independence, initiative, and teamwork.
Be a better leader
A broad range of abilities and characteristics are necessary for managers to lead with assurance, compassion, and fortitude. By cultivating these seven key characteristics, leaders can foster a contented and productive team that can overcome obstacles, accomplish their objectives, and prosper in the ever-changing workplace of today.
FAQs on how to become a better leader
What are the 7 characteristics of effective leaders?
Effective leaders have:
- Clear vision—They know where they're going.
- Empathy—They understand and care about team members.
- Tenacity—They bounce back from tough times.
- Effective communication—They speak openly and clearly.
- Honesty—They're always truthful and fair.
- Flexibility—They are able to change plans when needed.
- Inspiration—They make others want to do their best.
What does a real leader look like?
A genuine leader establishes confidence through their conduct, engages in candid communication, and actively listens. They take initiative and encourage development and cooperation among members of their team. They effectively manage obstacles by demonstrating resilience and adaptability.
What is one thing that all great leaders do?
Exemplary leaders consistently set a positive example. They embody the principles they advocate, manifesting integrity, responsibility, and commitment through their behaviors.
About the Author
Post by: Jillian Dearing
Jillian Dearing, a former financial software consultant and controller, is founder of a company dedicated to guiding aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners prepare, launch and expand their dream ventures.
Company: Mobile Online Business
Website:
www.mobileonlinebusiness.com
Connect with me on
LinkedIn.
