If you lead a team, small or large, paid or volunteer, they need something from you. As the leader, there are actually seven things that you have to take responsibility to provide them, if you want a winning team.
1. Credibility
Every team member needs credibility in order to succeed, and until it can be earned through effective performance the team leader must provide it.
2. Clear Direction
Team members want to succeed, but they need clear direction and a description of what success looks like for them. Team leaders should never assume their team members know what to do or how to do it.
3. Resources
Tools, money, and training is necessary for almost every task. Many years ago I was hired to do a job and challenged to do it with excellence, but my requests for funding the task were consistently rejected. The leader made no attempt to provide other solutions. I often wondered why they hired me.
4. Alignment
The strengths and weaknesses of a team member identify their value to the team. Team leaders must be aware of how each team member can best contribute to and benefit the team. The leader is responsible to align and re-align them to build the best team possible.
5. Regular Honest Feedback
Team members deserve regular, honest feedback and coaching. They need to know whether or not they are moving in the right direction.
6. Loyalty and Mutual Respect
Team leaders MUST demonstrate loyalty and mutual respect toward every member of the team. This is especially important during times of conflict or failure. Team members need to KNOW their leader won’t “throw them under the bus” during difficult times.
7. Reward
Reward is an essential component of human motivation, but people FEEL appreciated and rewarded through various ways and means. They range from a private or public “thank you”, a gift, a hand-written note, a privilege, a promotion, a salary increase, or a bonus.
Great teams have leaders who provide these things, and their team members love them for it!
What are some additional needs of team members?