Being a team leader is not just about being in charge of your direct reports. It is also about being responsible for the team as a whole, including assisting with business goals and objectives.
Here are six things you need to know about being the head honcho on your company’s team:
1. You are the leader of everything, not just your team
There are some people who think that being a team leader is all about being in charge of the members on your immediate team. In fact, being a good leader extends beyond your own people. It means you are ultimately responsible for everything that goes on within the department that you oversee.
2. You won’t necessarily be friends with everyone
When you first start out as a team leader, it might be tempting to want to be friends and buddies with everyone. However, this isn’t always possible or appropriate if you are responsible for leading a group of coworkers through specific tasks and objectives set by management. You have to be able to manage your relationships with other team members so that your work is always given the priority it deserves.
3. It’s not easy to be liked by everyone
It is a good idea to try and maintain good relationships with your coworkers, but you can’t go overboard in trying to please everyone. Sometimes you will have to make choices that might not be popular with some people; however, you must do what you believe is best for the overall success of your team.
4. You can’t take things personally
Being a team leader means that sometimes things are going to happen where others are unhappy with you or some of the decisions that you make. The important thing is to make sure that you always stay focused on the overall success of the team, and never take things personally.
5. You don’t have to be a manager to be a leader
While most people assume that a team leader must necessarily be in charge of other managers on his or her team, not all leaders need to be a manager in order to lead their people. In fact, some managers are so good at their job that they are able to pick up administrative tasks on their own as well as manage teams. This gives them an opportunity for leadership without having all the tangible responsibilities that go along with leading someone else’s staff.
6. You can be a team leader regardless of your position in the company
There is some belief that in order to be a good team leader you have to be at the top of your organisation. However, there are plenty of good leaders who manage teams and support their fellow colleagues from lower down the proverbial corporate ladder. This type of team leadership is particularly beneficial for small organisations and businesses where technical skill may not be as high on the list of desired qualities for managers as leadership itself. (To-do list)