Advice - To be a great team lead

I am starting a new role soon and I get to lead a team.

Any word of wisdom to be a great team lead? anything that you wish you knew before? any skill set you wish you practiced? anything that you realized in your role as a manager or team lead? any dos and donts as a team lead?

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Comments

kaiju

Be an excellent communicator! Make sure your team knows what you want from them and that you are open to explain more if they are not sure.

If you ask for input, do not get upset when the replies differ from your own views. Understand what the person is saying before making a reply.

Lead by example!!

si20

Firstly, congrats! I've not been a team lead as such - i've stood in for a team lead, so I feel like I can give some input. I'd recommend not being the kind of team lead who barks orders - you're the make or break of the team now. If the staff like the job, the work and the way you manage them, they'll stick around for years to come. If you bark orders, don't communicate with them, or they don't feel like you're on their side, they'll fall. My current team lead is very much a part of the team - he's not a technical guy but he doesn't pretend to be - if he doesn't know something, he'll ask someone who does. I think it's like the other post said, not getting upset over questions/comments and not letting your ego get in the way. I'm sure it'll be a great role and it will be good for the CV too!

cyberguypr

Understand the concept of servant leadership and embrace it.

Overview: https://www.skipprichard.com/9-qualities-of-the-servant-leader/

scaredoftests

Encourage a team environment.

gespenstern

1. Communicate everything so they never feel blindsided. If they do they lose respect for their leader.

2. Listen to their concerns and fight for them with higher ups.

3. If you have to force unpopular political decision on them -- do your best to explain the logic of the business, they may not like it but at least they understand what and why is it happening.

Mike R

https://www.modernservantleader.com/servant-leadership/bad-boss-vs-good-leader-image/#post/0

To me this is what true leadership really is, and no matter how crappy the job can be if your boss is in the trenches with you it makes a huge difference.

DatabaseHead

Care about the people are you leading.

paul78

Congrats!!!

When I first entered management 24 years ago, I was given the book 'Leadership Jazz' as a gift by the VP. The premise is that leadership is an art. And it takes talent which can be developed to be a good leader. I still have that book and I do sometimes thumb through it. I noticed that the book is still available if you want to consider checking it out - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27912.Leadership_Jazz

Jon_Cisco

Just remember nobody is perfect.

Good Luck!
Jon

LionelTeo

Congrats! I think your on the right track to be a good team lead.

As others had mentioned, the most important quality is to learn to ask. Even if it is something that you are certain you are definitely right, coming from a question approach will get allow you to hear other people thoughts and address/clarity any issues that your team member has before doing anything.

If it is a task that requires your team member to carry out, asking if it is alright if they will do it instead of telling them will also benefit you greatly. They will be committed to carry out the task once you had prompt them to say yes. Asking also give them a chance to bring up possible concerns which you can help address before doing any task.

Lastly, setting some time before and after every discussion to ask about non-work related matter can help build a comfort zone. Discussing about non-work but life issues is beneficial as you get to know and bond with the members better.

thedudeabides

Mandatory electroshock collars for all team members, which you can activate an any time with your remote.

Pmorgan2

1) Communicate consistently with your team members. Never leave them uninformed. Conversely, do not be part of the rumor mill and do not speculate wildly. It will take experienced judgement to know when you should tell everyone about an improbable possibility.

2) Be consistent with rewards and punishment. Inconsistent rewards can turn into slights against non-rewardees and actually decrease ambition. Everyone makes mistakes. Most are redeemable and should be forgiven. However, all should be held accountable consistently.

3) Train your team members to progress and even replace you. There is a philosophy that providing training will only cause team members to move on to other opportunities. But if you don't develop your team members they can fail to meet standards, or move on from lack of growth. It is better to have a good team who would move on to something better, than a bad team that would leave even for a lateral position.

4) Set clear and consistent expectations. Reward those that met and exceed expectations. Mentor those that do not. Make clear expectations for yourself. Know that hard chargers will take a better opportunity even if you treat them well. If you cannot offer them that opportunity, be grateful for the work they did. Know that most IT professionals stay in one place for only 2-3 years. Know that things don't always go to plan.

5) Did I mention consistency?

Ertaz

Tell the truth, even when it sucks.

rsxwithslicks

Congrats on moving up!

My advice would be to protect your team when mistakes are made. Their mistakes are really your mistakes. On the flip side, credit your team when credit is due. Their great ideas are their great ideas.. Never try and take credit for their hard work and blame them for any shortcomings.

Also not sure about your work culture but our company doesn't provide anything other than coffee and water. I've been known to bring in donuts (remembering their favorites/getting the crazy flavored ones to try), ice cream/milkshakes on a hot day, pizza, or some other small gesture to show my team I appreciate them. Keeping your team members happy/appreciative does wonders when they're stuck with you for a minimum of 40 hours a week, every week.

UnixGuy

Positive re-enforcement!!!