10 Tips For Managing Your Way To A Stronger Team

By Mark Sokol, VP, Product Marketing and Branding, A-LIGN

In every business, in every industry, management does matter. — Michael Eisner

Managing a successful team takes just the right balance of confidence, risk-taking, and talent. Your team needs to have the skills the job requires, the support to do their jobs efficiently, and enough motivation to push boundaries and solve problems.

Leading your team through the quick-change environment of the technology industry isn’t always easy, but here are 10 tips to make it simpler.

1. Empower and encourage your people to make decisions. If they make a choice you wouldn’t have, talk through it so that you can both discuss your point of view.
2. Don’t worry about people outgrowing their roles. Give your team the space to grow into their careers. If they outgrow the company and move on/up, you’ve done your job as a leader.
3. Shoulder the blame. Allow for failure, and celebrate success publicly.
4. When it is necessary to admonish or coach someone, do it privately. Start out with something they’re doing right, address the issue at hand, then finish with encouragement.
5. Address issues immediately. Don’t let them intensify.
6. Don’t be afraid of great people. Building a strong team means surrounding yourself with talented colleagues who may have skills and knowledge you don’t. Give them room to shine.
7. Set the bar high. Give your team something to reach for, and when they go above and beyond, make sure you clearly express your thanks. Encourage high performance with free days off, dress down days, gift cards, or other ways to publicly say thank you.
8. Don’t be afraid to fail; it means you took a risk, and now you can learn from it. Make sure your team knows you embrace this philosophy for yourself and for them. Create an environment that allows for failure.
9. Allow a creative space where thoughts can flow freely and the status quo can be challenged. Once leadership decisions are made, balance that with a determined stance on moving in the company direction, not against it.
10. Be transparent in everything. The more your people know about the company, the department — the better they are able to make terrific decisions that will help the company.

With the right support, an open door, and the confidence to lead, your team will learn to work smoothly together in an environment that fosters not only business success, but the personal and professional growth of every team member.

Ready to take your team growth to the next level? Clear, open communication is the key to lasting team success. Build the right foundation with 3 Ways to Solve Communication Problems Before It’s Too Late.