Jahnvi knew the road would get tricky with time, and she had to grasp every little piece of knowledge to be an astounding leader to her team. Being a first-time manager, she has to move around so many pieces, meet the deadlines, track the resources, and on top of everything, she has a team that needs motivation and management to be successful in the future venture.
It is undoubtedly overwhelming for her, however, she is diving deep into the requisites of managing a team efficiently. Till now she has ascertained the requisites of becoming a first-time manager, her values, locus of control, setting goals, and achieving them, her learnings from The Strangest Secret, how to handle the missed goals, an overview of feedback, the gateway to discovering the blind spot, frameworks of feedback, the concepts of feedforward, the overview of the interpersonal skills, the techniques to enhance interpersonal skills, and better team management using people reading guide.
Jahnvi stumbled upon a quote by Michael Jordan,
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.
It made her ponder upon the utilization of the talents of her team to cultivate an environment where team members work together to achieve shared goals. She even shuffled through the real-life examples of team management in action –
One of the most successful examples of team management comes from the tech giant Google. Under the leadership of CEO Sundar Pichai, Google has embraced a team-oriented approach to managing its employees. Google uses a flat organizational structure, where teams are organized and managed by peers working together to accomplish their goals.
Another example of successful team management is Apple. Under the leadership of CEO Tim Cook, Apple has developed a culture of collaboration, where teams are encouraged to work together to come up with creative solutions. Apple’s team management model focuses on creating a supportive environment, where team members are empowered to take initiative and make decisions.
Amazon is another great example of successful team management. Amazon has developed an innovative approach to managing teams, where teams are organized into small groups with clear roles and responsibilities. This approach has enabled Amazon to quickly develop innovative products and services, while also creating a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Jahnvi gets the point if she encourages collaboration, empowers her team, and creates a supportive environment, then she can help her team achieve remarkable success. This captured her interest to understand team management in detail and how she utilizes the benefits of effective team management to the fullest.
What Is Team Management And Why Is It An Essential Skill For Leaders?
Team management is the ability to effectively lead a group of people to work together and achieve a common goal. It involves a range of skills, from communication to problem-solving and decision-making. As a leader, having the skills to manage a team is essential for achieving success. When teams are managed effectively, they can be more productive, more creative, and more successful.
Effective team management allows leaders to maximize the potential of their team, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. It also allows teams to work together to solve problems, create innovative ideas, and develop better strategies for reaching their goals.
Importance of Effective Team Management
Aside from fostering a great work atmosphere and ensuring that all team members are aligned with the team and organizational goals, the technique has other advantages. Jahnvi discovered three reasons why team management is vital and they are discussed below.
A well-managed team = happy employees
It is a team leader or manager’s responsibility to ensure that employees are happy where they work, as this can have a positive impact on the company’s success.
For example, when organizations effectively manage teams and employees feel pleased and valued, their market value and financial performance can increase, staff retention levels can rise, customer service quality often improves, and customers become more loyal as a result.
Managers can do the following to boost employee happiness:
- Encourage and then act on employee feedback – acting on feedback demonstrates to team members that their voice matters.
- Work-life balance should be prioritized – since overworked employees are at risk of burnout. Encourage employees to leave the workplace on time, or adopt a more flexible work schedule if the company permits it, so employees can have more say over start and end timings.
- Be upfront and honest – with employees about mistakes, shortcomings, what you learned, results, and other issues. Making team members feel appreciated begins with open communication. Sharing team management plans might also provide useful background.
It enhances productivity
You can create a culture where people thrive with good team management. According to a survey, 77% of US workers believe culture has a significant impact on their ability to produce their best work.
Proper team management can create a culture in which employees can focus on their work rather than on external factors.
Here are a few examples of how managers can influence culture:
- Participate – By attending events, demonstrating enthusiasm for team growth, and interacting with employees on a personal level, team members will be motivated to contribute to team goals.
- Recognize individuals who do rather than achieve – provide praise for work completion. Instead of waiting for a task’s results, provide positive reinforcement and actionable feedback for completion.
- Set goals together – Openly explain the company’s high-level goals so everyone understands what’s vital and what’s not. Then, as a group, decide what is important to focus on and how to achieve those goals conjointly.
It curtails employee turnover
According to a 2019 survey, 81% of business owners believe “turnover is a costly problem.”
According to the survey, firms in the United States spend $1.1 billion every year seeking replacement employment. It also states that poor relationships between managers and their teams are the second most common reason for employees to quit their jobs.
It is clear that managers must prioritize employing the proper individuals. Here are a few suggestions for selecting your next team member:
- Determine whether they would fit in with your company culture – Before interviewing, determine what type of individual would best fit your culture or the culture you want to create. In the interview, ask questions about the candidate’s values or interpersonal skills to see if they’d be a good fit for your team.
- Avoid rushing the process – Rushing to fill a vacant post may raise the likelihood of hiring someone who is not a good fit. Be selective and patient in your search for the proper individual.
- Have candidates meet team members – Bringing in one or two team members to interview candidates will show whether they will mesh with the rest of your team and spot potential red flags.
Jahnvi knew that hiring the right talent alone isn’t enough to ensure good team management. She must maintain their motivation at all times. Giving genuine appreciation is one of the most effective methods to keep her team members motivated and driven. She has to allow her team members to provide feedback on her leadership strategies to ensure she is doing all that is required as a manager.
Once she understood the benefits of effectively managing a team, she took a leap to better understand the techniques of effective team management.
Techniques To Empower Your Team
Up to this point, Jahnvi got a good grasp of the importance of team management as an efficient leader. Above all, her responsibility is to keep her team motivated, on track, and informed of company goals and milestones. She took the charge to ensure everyone is contributing towards the company’s bottom line exultantly.
Since the time she joined her organization, she has come a long way when it comes to evolving as a professional. One thing she promised herself while starting her journey as a new manager was, “She wanted to be the change she wished to see in her organization.”
At this point in time, Jahnvi, today’s leader, wants to be viewed as a ‘facilitator” rather than a traditional team leader.
With this new reality in mind, she discovered these techniques to effectively manage a team:
Set Clear Goals
According to a HyperContext survey, the majority of managers indicated that keeping their team on track to meet goals was an important element of their job.
Managers who don’t have their eye on the ball, however, can’t ensure their employees move in the right direction.
The first step in empowering your team is to offer a clear vision. Make sure everyone knows what they should be working towards and how they can contribute to the team’s success. Define expectations, timelines, and objectives, and be sure to communicate them to your team members.
Celebrate Success
When your team achieves success, it’s important to recognize and celebrate it. Take time to recognize achievements and show appreciation for good work. This will help to foster a positive team environment and motivate your team to keep striving for excellence.
Define roles in the team
Every member of a team has a unique personality. Some are always “chipper,” which is helpful for morale and rallying troops. Others are adept at organizing and coordinating things. Some people are good communicators, while others are not.
Some of the team’s roles may include
- Champion – Someone who enjoys pushing ideas, rousing the troops, and driving change.
- Creator – Someone who enjoys coming up with new ideas, designing solutions, and taking on creative challenges.
- Implementer – Someone skilled in managing daily work operations and administrative chores.
- Facilitator – Someone who is good at managing relationships, both within and outside of the team; they are the glue that holds the fort together.
Encourage Collaboration
Employees who report feeling like they are a member of a team are 2.3 times more likely to be engaged at work.
Effective collaboration is essential for teams to complete tasks collectively, on schedule, and without disagreement.
Managers can use collaboration tools to improve collaboration. In fact, employing technology to operate workflows and collaborative projects is virtually expected; most Millennials (85%) and Gen Z (79%), for example, want their direct supervisors to problem-solve with technology, which includes all of the tools required to execute tasks and projects.
Provide Support
It’s important to provide your team with the support they need to be successful. Make sure they have the necessary resources and tools to do their job. Provide feedback and guidance when needed and be available to answer any questions they may have.
Provide psychological safety
It is a shared belief that speaking up honestly about mistakes and vulnerabilities will not result in punishment or humiliation. The word is used to describe a safe environment in which team members can freely communicate their opinions and ideas without fear of psychological injury.
It brings out an environment devoid of psychological stressors. Team members feel sure that their coworkers will not shame, ridicule, or punish them for speaking up or making mistakes in such a setting. Employees benefit from a workplace that encourages innovation, risk-taking, emotional intelligence, empathy, a growth mindset, and optimal mental health.
- It facilitates creativity to develop new solutions and brainstorm new ideas.
- It leads to improved problem-solving.
- It promotes team solidarity
- It results in more constructive conversations.
Teams with high degrees of psychological safety are more likely to achieve high-performing goals than teams without such a secure environment.
Give Recognition
Employee morale is greatly influenced by the recognition of team members’ efforts and accomplishments, but a lack of recognition can lead to burnout.
According to a recent study, reducing the chances of delivering and receiving acknowledgment increases the chances of burnout by 45% and 48%, respectively.
Show your team members that you value their contributions by giving them recognition. Acknowledge their efforts and let them know that their hard work is appreciated. This will help to motivate them and make them feel valued. By following these strategies, you can effectively manage your team and empower them to reach their full potential. With clear goals, collaboration, support, and recognition, your team will be well-equipped to achieve success.
Jahnvi is well aware of the fact that managing a team is no easy task. It’s an ever-changing dynamic that demands constant monitoring, changes, re-adaptations, and maintenance. She knows having good team management tactics will keep her team running smoothly, just like the engine in a car that requires constant oiling to support the health and functionality of the entire system.
https://monday.com/blog/teamwork/team-management/
https://blog.proofhub.com/team-management-techniques-ab9174bd5b58
https://www.lifehack.org/859318/effective-team-management
https://www.risely.me/how-can-managers-ensure-psychological-safety-of-their-team/
https://tryinch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/team-management_1.jpg
https://www.prevuehr.com/drive/uploads/2020/02/team-fit.jpeg
https://projectcor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/9-1024×538.jpg
Written By: Jimmy Jain
Edited By: Afreen Fatima
Society of Design Thinking Professionals
