Key Skills Training for Every Team Leader

While the terms managers and leaders are sometimes used interchangeably – and there is some overlap between the two – there are some key differences between them and leadership includes certain elements that managers don’t always have. Leaders will usually go above and beyond the usual manager, often motivating their team and providing key insight for their role. Here are some skills that leaders have, which you should focus on with skills training for develop.

1. Knowing how to communicate. Being a strong leader means being able to communicate effectively and successfully. To become a manager, you need to be able to communicate to a certain degree, but to be a leader and stand out from the crowd, you need to be meaningful and make an impact every time you communicate.

Being a strong team leader means that you need to communicate regularly with your team and also shrewdly. To become a leader, it’s important to learn how to balance sharing information with your team in the name of transparency, team morale, and development, as well and judging what information is too much and unnecessary. This is something that can come with time, and experience, though it can also be practiced through communication exercises.

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2. Being available and approachable. As a leader, you have to be constantly present and integrated in their activities, so you can be involved or inspiring everything they do. Even if you’re not around all the time because of the job format, it’s crucial to show that you’re available and they can always approach you with an issue if needed. You can even schedule some meetings for one-on-one time with team members so you can always be aware of how their development is going and encourage them in their endeavors. This creates a culture of openness and trust in the workplace and creates respect between your team members and yourself.

3. Consistent. Another great skill to learn and practice for team leaders is to show their consistency. Even when you have a bad day and you feel cranky or tired, not motivated to work, or distracted, this cannot show to the rest of the team. In fact, Kendra Wiserman, a business writer at Australia2Write and Next Coursework, explains that “the team is depending on you to be consistent and stable, so you need to set yourself a standard and stick to it. This means that regardless of the internal issue or obstacle, everything will be handled the right way to boost productivity and trust.”

4. Organization. Whether there are team projects or meetings or deadlines, you’re expected as a leader to be on top of everything. It’s important to know what’s happening, which colleagues are working on which project, and how to proceed at all times. Even if you’re not naturally an organized person, it’s not too late to gain that skill and learn how to create guidelines and run smooth operations.

5. Delegating. Anyone can delegate, but not everyone can delegate well. As a leader, it’s important to learn how to delegate in an effective and impactful way. Delegating isn’t about getting rid of work that you don’t wish to do, it’s about ensuring the right team members are doing the right tasks and they’re empowered to give their all. As per Kieran Wilson, a communication manager at Brit Student and 1Day2Write, “it’s impossible for leaders to work on everything themselves, and you’re harming your team by doing so. By delegating your work to the right people, you’re allowing your team members to boost their portfolios, get more experience, and give back to the team.”

6. Show confidence and expertise. Team leaders must be able to know a lot about a certain topic and confidently. These two are linked, because by being familiar with the organization and its role within the industry, you learn that how you perform and what you know will help your team. This help you to be respected by the team, or not, in which case your chances are much higher.

7. Know how to innovate. Leaders stand out from managers because they’re able to innovate. They can bring new ideas to an old process and constantly be on the lookout for different ways to get through a job. This is also good down the road when you’re seeking to improve and develop not just yourself but also the company.

Michael Dehoyos

Michael Dehoyos
Michael Dehoyos, a business expert for PhD Kingdom and Academic Brits, helps companies create education and training plans for their employees. He has provided many articles for sites and blogs on these topics. His writing can also be found on Origin Writings.

Michael Dehoyos

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