3 Things Leaders Need to Promote in Their Teams

There are plenty of articles out there talking about the kind of traits a leader needs to thrive in a business setting, but few that discuss the characteristics leaders should be looking for in their teams. As the head of a business, people in leadership positions are often the first figures that individuals will turn to for inspiration and insight into how they should act. Usually, the way a leader behaves dictates how the rest of the team will perform.

We’re going to look at three essential traits that leaders need to build both in themselves and within the teams they work with.

1. Collaboration

Just because someone leads a team, doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t know how to work effectively as part of that team. A leader that can encourage effective teamwork will also motivate their employees and coworkers to embrace collaboration as part of the company’s culture. Getting people to work together can be a difficult skill, but leaders can start by showing how easy it is to ask others for help when necessary.

One particularly good way to inspire better collaboration in the workforce is to implement group sessions where people can discover the strengths and weaknesses of their peers. That way, everyone will know exactly who to turn to when they need specific support with a project or problem. Of course, it will still be up to the leaders in the team to determine how to delegate specific tasks.

2. Accountability

Speaking of collaboration, it’s difficult for employees to work effectively as a team if everyone’s always playing the blame game. The truth is that mistakes can happen in any business, and it’s essential that people feel comfortable owning up to the things that they’ve done wrong. When someone can admit to their mistakes and know they’ll be forgiven by the group, they’ll be more likely to take risks and act creatively in the future.

Accountability is something that a leader can teach from the top down. When someone goes wrong with a business plan, leaders should address the issue with the team and explain what they’ve learned from the mistake, and how they’re going to move forward.

3. Good Communication

Finally, good communication is one of the most important features that any good team environment can have. When people know how to discuss issues clearly and cohesively, problems get solved faster. Leaders can begin to encourage good communication at the start of every project, by explaining the mission and values of the company to their team. It’s also the responsibility of leaders in a business to show their team members how to use communication tools like instant messaging and SMS alerts when necessary.

Once staff members begin to pick up good communication habits, it’s important to keep those conversations going. People in a business need to feel free to speak to each other, arrange meetings, and even ask leaders for extra clarification when necessary. The more comfortable people feel communicating, the more streamlined and productive the business becomes.