​​Skills to Manage a Team: 15 Traits of Strong Team Leaders

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a fresh-faced newbie, there’s always room to improve your leadership skills to manage a team. After all, effective team leadership is the key to success in any organization, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. 

But what exactly makes a great team leader? Well, I’m glad you asked. 

When I started my first corporate job working for a university, I was young and fresh out of highschool and looking for any opportunity to launch my career into the right direction. 

I found myself working as an office assistant as the face of a university business office. My direct report was a nice lady who was professional, kind, and asked religiously about my class load and my mom.

She was aware of my workload outside of my desk work, and it allowed her to be realistic with her expectations of me in the office. 

Because of her care toward me, I worked extra hard at my duties. I showed up 15 minutes before my start time.

I took on extra projects that I knew would make her life easier, and I ended up staying all summer as a student worker to help tackle a big project for the office.

That team leader made work enjoyable, and I felt like I came first. Student workers from years past would stop by our office to show off engagement rings, babies, share career wins, and wedding announcements. 

This is an example of a leader that was first people focused, and then task oriented. She cared for her people, but she wasn’t wishy-washy. My tasks were still clearly defined, I was held to a high standard of excellence. 

But I knew that her workers and their well-being mattered more than the office tasks and organization that could always be pushed off to tomorrow. 

Because of her leadership in the office, the open positions in our office were highly sought after by the other students in the university, and when it came time for her to sift through resumes,  she had her pick of the cream of the crop. 

In my experience, there are three essential traits that every effective team leader should possess: effective communication, strong decision-making skills, and empathy and emotional intelligence. 

But let’s dive in and break each of these down and really uncover: what are the essential skills to manage a team?

Effective Communication: The Key to Great Team Leadership

As a team leader, effective communication should be at the top of your priority list. After all, without clear and open communication, your team will struggle to achieve its goals and work together effectively.

Listening Actively: The Foundation of Effective Communication

Active listening is a critical aspect of effective communication. When you listen actively, you show your team members that you value their input and ideas, which helps to build trust and rapport. 

Active listening can help you to identify and address any concerns or issues that team members may be facing. 

This means making eye contact, putting your phone down, not speaking until they are done speaking, and then directly addressing the subject matter. 

Providing Feedback: The Importance of Constructive Criticism

Providing feedback is another crucial aspect of effective communication. When you provide constructive criticism, you help your team members to grow and develop their skills. 

However, it’s important to remember that feedback should always be delivered in a positive and constructive manner, with a focus on improvement rather than criticism.

One easy way to learn how to provide constructive criticism is to learn your teams’ personality types. This will give you insight into how they want to be coached, and how to clearly communicate with them. 

Giving Clear Instructions: Avoiding Misunderstandings and Confusion

Clear instructions are essential for ensuring that everyone on your team is on the same page. When you give clear instructions, you can avoid misunderstandings and confusion, which can slow down progress and lead to frustration.

The best way to do this is to slow down, don’t assume, and repeat back to make sure that you’re all on the same page. 

Non-Verbal Communication: Reading Between the Lines

Non-verbal communication, such as body language and tone of voice, can also be important in effective communication. 

By paying attention to these subtle cues, you can gain a deeper understanding of your team members’ thoughts and feelings.

Watch for crossed arms, sighing, nervous fidgeting, etc. People are always telling us what they are feeling. And if you pay close enough attention then you’ll know what it is!

Empathy: The Glue that Holds Teams Together

Empathy is an essential aspect of effective communication. When you show empathy towards your team members, you demonstrate that you care about their well-being and are willing to listen to their concerns. 

Empathy just means that you know how to put yourself in your team members’ shoes. You attempt to relate to them, and you think about how you would want your leader to react to you if you were in their place. 

Strong Decision-Making Skills: Making the Tough Calls

As a team leader, you’re often faced with tough decisions that can impact your team’s success. That’s why having strong decision-making skills is one of the essential skills to manage a team.

Analyzing Data: The Foundation of Informed Decisions

Analyzing data is an essential aspect of strong decision-making. By gathering and analyzing data, you can gain a better understanding of the situation at hand and make more informed decisions. This can help you to identify trends, patterns, and potential risks, which can inform your decision-making process.

Evaluating Options: Weighing the Pros and Cons

When making a decision, it’s important to consider all of the available options. By evaluating the pros and cons of each option, you can make a more informed decision and avoid potential pitfalls. 

This can involve conducting research, seeking input from team members, and considering the potential outcomes of each option.

Choosing the Best Course of Action: Making the Call

Once you’ve analyzed the data and evaluated your options, it’s time to make a decision. Choosing the best course of action can be challenging, but it’s essential for effective team leadership. 

By considering the potential risks and benefits of each option, you can make a decision that aligns with your team’s goals and values.

Seeking Input: Collaboration and Buy-In

Seeking input from team members is another important aspect of strong decision-making. By involving your team in the decision-making process, you can build buy-in and collaboration, which can lead to better outcomes. 

Team members may have unique perspectives or insights that can inform your decision-making process.

Taking Action: Moving Forward with Confidence

Taking action is essential for turning your decision into a reality. By taking decisive action, you can demonstrate your leadership skills and move your team towards its goals. 

This may involve delegating tasks, setting timelines, and communicating the plan to your team.

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Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Understanding Your Team

Empathy and emotional intelligence are essential skills to manage a team. By understanding and managing your emotions and building trust with your team members, you can create a positive work environment and foster collaboration.

Understanding and Managing Emotions: The Foundation of Emotional Intelligence

Understanding and managing your emotions is a key aspect of emotional intelligence. By being aware of your own emotions and managing them effectively, you can better understand the emotions of your team members and respond to them in a constructive way. This can help to build trust and create a positive work environment.

Self-awareness: Knowing Yourself

Self-awareness is another essential aspect of emotional intelligence. By understanding your own strengths and weaknesses, you can better lead your team and make informed decisions. 

Self-awareness can help you to understand your own emotional triggers and manage your emotions in a constructive way.

You could take personality assessments, ask your close friends and family how they perceive you, and maybe even take up journaling. 

Building Trust with Team Members: The Importance of Relationships

Building trust with your team members is essential for effective team leadership. By fostering positive relationships and being honest and transparent with your team, you can create a sense of trust and respect. This can lead to increased collaboration and better outcomes for your team.

One of the hardest, but most effective ways to build trust with team members is to give them room to do their jobs. Micromanagement is a sure-fire way to tell your team that you don’t trust them. 

Handling Conflicts Constructively: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Conflicts are a natural part of working in a team, but handling them constructively is essential for effective team leadership. 

By listening actively to your team members and working to find a solution that meets everyone’s needs, you can turn conflicts into opportunities for growth and development.

Remember, there’s always two sides to every story, and then the truth. 

Social Awareness: Understanding the Needs of Others

Social awareness is another important aspect of emotional intelligence. By understanding the needs and perspectives of your team members, you can create a work environment that fosters collaboration and growth. 

Social awareness can help you to identify potential challenges and proactively address them before they become bigger problems.

Final Thoughts: Developing Essential Skills to Manage a Team

Developing essential traits for effective team leadership can help you inspire and motivate team members, make informed decisions, and create a positive and productive work environment. 

By mastering effective communication, strong decision-making skills, and empathy and emotional intelligence, you can become a more effective team leader.

By focusing on these essential traits, you can become a more effective team leader who achieves common goals, fosters collaboration, and helps team members grow and develop. 

So, whether you’re a seasoned team leader or just starting out, focus on developing these essential traits and see the positive impact on your team and your organization.