Everybody looks up to an effective leader. If you influence a group of people, you need to use that power for good. A leader is someone who inspires, motivates, and encourages a team to accomplish a common goal.
Some of the greatest leaders of the past still have a large impact on today’s society. Mahatma Gandhi, for example, left his mark on the world as an activist and a symbol of peace. Meanwhile, people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela are still mentioned as sources of inspiration for people who seek to make a change.
If you want to become one of the greats, it’s essential to start from scratch. Here are five ways to be better at leading teams:
1. Discover your leadership style.
Before you start leading teams, you have to develop your signature style. There is no universal way to lead a group of people properly; it all depends on whom you’re working with and how they respond to you.
For example, an autocratic leadership style is commanding and controlling, which may not work for groups that require a collaborative effort. On the other hand, democratic and affiliative approaches are geared more towards developing team members’ abilities than the leaders themselves.
2. Understand your strengths and weaknesses.
The next step to leading teams successfully is to assess yourself. Understand what you are capable of and accept that there are some things you may have trouble with. When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can adjust the way you lead teams to encourage more collaboration.
3. Learn to communicate effectively.
Effective communication is essential, no matter the setting. You need to connect with your team and foster a mutual sense of trust. It’s best to start from the bottom, by getting to know each member from their personalities and interests.
4. Be passionate and optimistic.
Leaders are meant to inspire and motivate their teams — especially during the most troubling times. Though it may be hard, it’s important to stay passionate about your work and have a smile on your face to encourage better group performance.
5. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
What sets great leaders apart from others is they are willing to try new things. If your usual approach fails to work, then maybe it’s time to accept new ideas and embrace change.
About the Author:
Author: Richard Sharp
“Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced” John Keats
This quote continues to inspire my pursuit of delivering authentic, long-term online learning opportunities for K-12 students and educators. As a former classroom teacher, senior faculty member and current district school board member, I take great pride in sharing my education insights towards technology enhanced learning in the student leadership and future skills of the workforce curricular areas.
