"Behind every fear is a person you want to be." – Unknown
Many times, straightforward communication is misinterpreted and ends up creating situations that are damaging and out of control. Therefore, spoken communication training should not be taken lightly or dismissed as unimportant.
"If your actions inspire others to dream, learn, do more, and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
A good team has a strong leader. This leader will effectively lead the team in teamwork and pursue the set goals and aims. This chapter looks at some of the qualities a good leader should have.
Is the leader a part of the team?
What role does the leader play in supporting the team?
Do you have what it takes to lead a team successfully? By the end of this chapter, you will be able to know who to elect as a leader for your team. You will also get to see if you can lead the team. You may also learn whether your current team leader has what it takes to show your team.
Doing It Right
There are several reasons why there is a need to explore and even implement periodic exercises within a team for spoken communication training. Some of the elements that should be addressed within the spoken communication training are as listed below:
Ensuring all involved learn to speak clearly and audibly is the first step to effective communication. Taking the time and effort to stop where the impact is needed for all listening to understand the importance of a particular point being made help to emphasize the point.
Effective communication is not to impress but to ensure all completely understand the contents. Using "clever" or bombastic language is often more confusing than enlightening. By the constant use of such language, the listeners would either lose interest in what is being said or, worse still, go about doing things in a way that is contrary to the purpose at hand, thus causing even further complications.
When delivering important instructions, adopting a method where the listeners are asked to repeat the said instructions ensures a complete understanding of what is required by both parties. Also, instructing in an orderly format helps to keep confusion levels minimal.
If the intention is to keep everyone relaxed, simple and easy-to-understand language should be used. Avoid making too many jokes, especially if the connotations are ambiguous, as it can cause confusion, misinterpretation, and feeling slighted.
Using active rather than passive language patterns is also encouraged. There is more emphasis on the importance of the action requirement through functional language patterns.
Qualities of a Good Leader
Supportive
A good team leader should be able to encourage and support their team. This is what can help build a formidable team. Enabling people to be the best can improve the team's overall performance. This is what can help make a formidable team. A good team leader also listens to the team's grievances and requests and presents this to the organization. The leader should be willing to be his team whenever the need arises effectively.
Excellent People Skills and Strong, Relatable Character
A good leader should have good character. He should be someone that the team members can easily talk to. A good leader knows where to strike a balance between being friendly and authoritative.
If a team respects its leader, they can follow and work together effectively. However, a group that fears their leader will not be able to work well together.
Confident
A good leader should always be confident in everything that they do. A confident leader can inspire others to be their best and work hard to reach their goals. A team may easily not follow a person who seems unsure about themselves or the tasks. The team may also not respect such a leader.
A confident person is more likely to lead a team effectively.
Committed to Excellence
There are diverse types of teams. A team may try to complete assignments fast without paying attention to quality. These types of groups usually do not meet deadlines. These teams have weak leaders who do not lead them in the right direction. A good team leader should always have integrity and a commitment to excellence. They should look to have the performance of the team. Such a leader ensures that the team always stays productive.
You must set lofty standards and equally high expectation levels as a leader. This will help your team embers to aim high each time.
Focused
If a team leader is not focused, it takes extra energy to work together to realize their goals. A distracted team is likely to postpone assignments or even not work together if they do not are shared aims.
A focused leader will ensure that every team member takes part in helping achieve the set goals and aims. He usually has his mind set on increasing productivity and the output quality of the team.
Excellent Communication Skills
Communication is about just being able to be understood. You cannot lead people if you cannot express yourself effectively. You must watch out for minor issues that may bring about a communication breakdown. Learn to be polite and to talk to your teammates with respect. A leader who constantly yells does not inspire their team. You should also not issue orders. Learn to discuss and make requests or assign roles.
It would help if you also learned to be a listener. This is an amazingly effective communication skill. You can learn and work well with others if only you know how to listen first.
Innovative
An effective leader should know how to think freely. Such a person can make the team develop and progress well.
Motivating
A team will not be able to perform well if they are not motivated. It would help if you kept the team in high spirits. You do not have to give incentives, but specific things can motivate your team. For instance, if someone does something good, taking notes and complimenting them is good.
Some teams acknowledge “the employee of the month/year." This appreciation is also amazingly effective as it motivates the team members to work hard.
Once your team a member excels in a project, you should congratulate them or show them some appreciation. This will motivate them to work harder.
Good at Conflict Resolution
A team is usually made up of people with different personalities and ideologies. This means that from time to time, there will be conflict among members.
A team leader should be able to resolve these conflicts without taking sides or making unfair judgments. He should always ensure that the team gets along and works together.
Ability to Work in A-Team
As a team leader, you must realize that you are also part of the team. You should be able to work with others. You cannot make decisions individually; you need your team.
If you strongly believe that individualism brings the best results, you will not be able to conduct much as part of the team.
Ability to Be Objective
As human beings, we tend to be naturally drawn to some people and repelled by others. You may have things in common with someone who draws you to them. However, as a team leader, you cannot get favoritism. You must be impartial and treat everyone equally. It would help if you also stopped thinking about yourself. If you have an idea that the group does not support, try to get their viewpoint. Do not try to impose your beliefs on everyone. In addition, you must put your emotions aside.
Knowledgeable
As a leader, you must always stay knowledgeable. Try and read comprehensively and consult with others. You must stay ahead in the industry. This knowledge will be used to empower the team members. It will also be reflected in the overall performance of the team.
Ability to Accept and Take Criticism
When you realize that your team members are doing the wrong things, you must correct them correctly. It would help if you gave positive criticism to make them rectify. In the same way, you should be able to accept criticism and use it to become a better leader.
Involved or Active
An active leader typically sets the best examples. They managed to be part of the team entirely. As a leader, participation is essential. An absentee leader who delegates tasks and then leaves can never be successful. You are part of the team, so you better contribute.
A good leader stays involved with his team. He does not delegate duties and then goes away.
Wrapping Up
There are many benefits to creating a team environment in the office. Teams can often achieve tasks that may not have been finished otherwise.
An effective team attitude also improves motivation and job satisfaction, which add to productivity, innovation, and retention.
Teams can also perk up coordination between workers and enhance the decision-making procedure. With correct preparation and training, you can construct a team environment inside your workplace.
A team relies heavily on how the team members treat each other. Teamwork cannot exist in a group that does not respect one another. It also cannot exist if people do not trust one another. The key to working together is fostering good relationships based on trust and respect.
Good luck to you and your team!