The importance of leadership in effective team building

'Teaming' is one of those buzzwords much beloved by HR professionals and senior management, which is why you’ll see it plastered all over many organisation’s corporate marketing literature. However, to create an effective team requires genuine leadership skills that all too few people possess.

Tips for team leadership

This article won’t turn you into a great team leader: only you can do that. What it will do is to give you a few pointers that will help you along the way. Below are some areas to consider:

• Scope. Differentiate between general team building and specific aims for projects for which you will need a dedicated team. Of course, depending on the size of the team this may not be mutually exclusive.
  
• Clarity. Communicate effectively with members of your team and let them know the importance of their role in the whole project. They also need to know how the project relates to the overall objectives of the organization.
  
• Enthusiasm. If you can’t motivate yourself, you’ll not motivate your team. This is more effective coming from a trusted individual.
  
• Empowerment. The team members and the whole team itself need to feel empowered to make decisions – within certain parameters of course.
  
• Moral courage. This is a rare and valuable attribute that you must personally exhibit but also develop and encourage in others.
  
• Creativity. Rather than feel threatened by creativity you should encourage it. As General Patton once said: “Never tell people how to do things.
  Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
  
• Measurement. It is crucial that you have some yardstick by which to measure the performance of your team.
  
• Make it fun. Life is too short to spend a minimum of 35 hours a week in the company of miserable, downtrodden colleagues. You’re the leader so inject some fun into the day.

Books to read

Numerous management books attempt to reveal the secrets of leadership. I’ve chosen a couple of books written by people who’ve led teams in extreme circumstances.

Below are some two books that provide interesting perspectives on leadership and teambuilding:

Hazardous Duty

Colonel David Hackworth was a Vietnam hero, and renowned battalion commander, who correctly predicted the war, would end in failure for the US. His most famous book is Hazardous Duty. He also had his own website.

Get 'Hazardous Duty' from the David Hackworth website

Get 'About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior' from Amazon

The Girl's Guide to Being a Boss (Without Being a Bitch): Valuable Lessons, Smart Suggestions, and True Stories for Succeeding as the Chick-in-Charge

Get 'The Girl's Guide to Being a Boss' from Amazon

If you would like to recommend any books feel free.