Teamwork is one of the fundamental components both in organizations and in other less formalized contexts. Many situations require the cooperation of groups of people, and reaching the objectives set in this way is not something that can be achieved simply by joining forces. Someone needs to coordinate and supervise the whole project, motivate, generate changes in the division of labour, etc. In other words, you need a leader.

In this article we will see what are the skills to develop to be a good group leader , going beyond the individualistic perception of “each one for himself”. To do this, we will review some basic principles of leadership.

How to be a good leader at work

In each group formed by people, regardless of their degree of specialization, it is necessary for someone to play the role of leader. Despite the confusion surrounding this concept, it should be noted that leadership is not based on imposing one’s own interests on those of others, but on adopting a strategic decision-making role that directs the group towards its goals in the best possible way.

Bearing this in mind, let’s look at some advice on how to be a good leader, although the specific skills to be worked on also depend on the specific characteristics of the type of organization you are in and the work climate you want to promote.

Getting used to having everything organized

Chaos is not an option. As a leader has to be attentive to many work processes at once, it is essential to know at every moment where the necessary information can be consulted, who is in charge of what, and what tasks have to be done during the day, the week and the month. Failing to do this can generate dysfunctions that negatively affect the whole structure of the group or the organization.

2. Learning to communicate

The strategic nature of the leader makes it essential to establish a constant flow of communication between him and the workers he supervises. It is necessary to keep in mind what the other knows and what the other does not know, so that no errors of interpretation appear , and not to assume that the other understands what is being talked about by using references.

The latter is especially important if the authority the leader derives from makes some people not ask when ambiguities appear in communication.

3. Make clear the functions of each one

It is key to have the ability to resolve doubts when questions arise about where one type of work ends and the other begins. This way there will be no gaps in responsibility and everyone knows who they are receiving instructions from and who they are supervising.

4. Going through experiences

This last aspect is key. To be a good leader you always need to have experience in the field you are working in, for a very simple reason: when you start working, it is impossible to foresee the situations you will have to face, regardless of their importance. That is why you have to encounter problems in order to learn from them .

5. Knowing how to delegate

In order to manage efforts well, it is necessary to know when it is time to delegate a task to another worker. To do this, it is necessary to carry out an assessment of the competences of the latter, and to see if this workload is significant and helps the group in general to function better.

6. Training assertiveness

A leader cannot avoid situations that may displease him or another member of the team simply by not going through that experience, if doing so is necessary to positively affect the whole team . Therefore, it is necessary to respect other people’s points of view while expressing in a very direct way what one holds, even if it contradicts the other’s opinions.

7. Knowing how to motivate

Each team and each person has different motivation dynamics. Knowing how to find the formula to keep everyone performing at a point of balance between production and well-being and personal satisfaction is key, and to do this you have to know how to mobilise groups.

8. Learning from the sector

It is essential to know what the group or organization works with. To do this, it is very useful to go through all the phases of the work process, or as many as possible, to see how the workers in each department or segment of the work chain experience it, if this system exists.

9. Listen to constant feedback

Within a company or a work group a lot of valuable information is generated . It is necessary to know how to listen to it in order to know the needs of the rest of the team, the problems that arise, their interests, etc.