If you’ve just been promoted to team leader, congratulations! While the situation might be a little nerve-wracking, know that your boss has faith in you, or you wouldn’t be standing where you are today.
Among the many new challenges you face, you will need to establish credibility as a leader in the eyes of your team. So, cast off your fears and get ready to focus on developing the skills and strategies you need to succeed!
Top Tips For Leading Your New Team Successfully
1. Learn About Your Team
Your manager is the best person to speak to when it comes to reviewing the team dynamic. Seek to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and quirks of the team as a whole and each individual separately. It’s also important to understand your manager’s goals for the team and where he or she thinks you should focus your efforts. See if you can identify existing and nascent talent as well as any gaps that might be present.
2. Solicit Feedback From Your Peers
Talk to others in similar positions in the organization and find out what they think of your team. Having an outside perspective is helpful, especially when it comes to departments that you will have to engage with. Plus, it’s always a good idea to have others on your side. You never know when you’ll need their support.
3. Learn More About Them
Too many managers start their team relationships by making it about themselves. Sure, you want your team members to know that you are capable, but the focus should be on them – not you. Keep your introduction as brief as possible, and ask questions to find out more about your team’s culture and dynamic.
4. Ask For Input
Find out from your new team what their challenges are, as they see things. Ask them to put together a wish list of things that would help them perform more efficiently and solicit any ideas they may have on how to do things better. Not everything can be accomplished to everybody’s liking, but you’ll get a sense of what’s right and what’s wrong from their standpoint, and maybe you’ll have some solutions to offer.
5. Conduct One-on-One Meetings
Sometimes it’s difficult to assess personalities in a team setting. Sitting down with each team member one by one will give you a chance to get to know them as individuals, their hopes and dreams, what their life is like outside of work. It will also provide them with the opportunity to get to know you better as well, instilling trust and strengthening your relationship.
6. Empower Your Team
Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. If you are in charge of a high-performing team, you won’t be expected to make any sweeping changes. If there are adjustments to be made, they likely won’t be evident right away. Take a minimum of three months to observe and understand the processes already in place before you start rearranging the furniture.
Leading a new team to success may be a challenge, but it can be the most exciting and rewarding path you have ever walked. For more tips and advice on how to succeed in your new role, connect with Business Workspaces today.
