A leader is a vital part of a team, but what should a leader be trying to achieve with a team? What is a leader supposed to bring to a project that wouldn’t have been there otherwise? Knowing exactly what it is you are supposed to be doing is the most important part of any job, but for a leader it is especially the case. Learn to lead a team on our Leadership Skills course.
Motivation:
This is one of the biggest parts of being a leader. You are there to inspire and support your team in what maybe a time of great stress. As a leader you should be constantly looking to bolster moral and maintain unity within the group.
Overview/guidance.
A leader is someone who others turn to when they need help. Your job as a leader dictates that you should be keeping a watch over the project as a whole, it is not your job to get too confined in the minutia of every little thing. There is no problem in getting stuck in, indeed it is encouraged, but do not get bogged down.
Direction:
A leader should know what had happened, what is happening and what is going to happen. If there are any decisions to be made it is the project manager or leader that should be addressed, or at least informed. Effectively it is a leader’s job to remain in “the loop” at all times.
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Posted by Colin Welch in Leadership Skills on April 20th, 2009 | No Comments »
From every manager giving good clear feedback is vital. Although it can sometimes be seen as criticism when handled carefully it can improve results and strengthen working relationships. Many employees may not even be aware that they are not performing as expected or required. Constuctive feedback can help people see their blind spots and understand the impact of their behaviour, feedback can enhance their career.
Unfortunately many managers put off giving feedback because it makes them uncomfortable, or they want to avoid confrontation. Feedback should be clear and precise and avoid hints, blame or humiliation. Managers need to know how to be assertive and ask for what they want from employees.
Once an employee knows or understands what their manager would like they may go away and think about it, change their behaviour and enhance their own career as a result. Everybody wins.
Assertiveness and confidence building training - A good one day course for managers on assertiveness.
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Posted by Heather Buckley in Management Skills on September 24th, 2009 | No Comments »
Silicon Beach Training offer a great staff motivation training course, as well as providing team building training and team leadership training.
Key motivational practices
Managers and leaders need to develop a skill set which will enable them to create the right environment within which a member of staff will be motivated.
Remember, people have to motivate themselves; managers can’t motivate people anymore than they can empower them. However, managers can and should set up an environment where they best motivate and empower themselves. This environment needs to include at the very least the following:
- Support and encouragement
- Access to training and development opportunities
- Feedback on performance
- Praise
The key for managers is knowing how to set up the environment for each of their team members.
How to Motivate the Team
Everyone is motivated by different needs but generally when staff feel good about themselves, the work they do, and the organisation they work for, it is much easier to gain their cooperation.
Here is a list of ways in which managers can extract the very best out of team members, which is of benefit to them, you and the organisation as a whole.
- Involve team members in the decision-making process. If not deciding what is to be done, then how it is to be done, or when or in what way and by whom. Let their participation increase over time.
- Keep people informed. e.g. on changes that can directly affect them such as policy changes, procedure or rule changes etc.
- Be aware of the morale level of your employees. Be sensitive to changes in morale. Know when and why it goes up or down.
- Maintain an open-door policy. Be approachable, available, and interested, not distant.
- Develop a caring attitude. A good manager trains, develops, counsels, guides, and supports their employees.
- Be sure to listen. Always listen to and try to understand what employees are communicating.
- Outline job responsibilities. Make certain that team members know exactly what is expected of them and how their performance will be evaluated.
- Always treat employees with respect. Be thoughtful and considerate of the person you are dealing with.
- Ask for suggestions. Be sure to invite suggestions and new ideas from team members concerning work. Be willing to put good ideas into action by making changes.
- Give feedback. An effective manager gives feedback on performance and achievements and does not criticise, blame or personally attack others.
- Give recognition. Give appropriate praise and recognition for a job well done.
- Maintain high standards. By involving team members in establishing high standards of performance, you will build their pride and self-confidence
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Posted by Heather Buckley in Management Skills on April 19th, 2007 | No Comments »
