We all hear the term “good team leadership” in our day-to-day business activities, but do we really know what the words mean? Do we understand how to develop good team leadership and how to make sure our management teams understand the fundamentals of this crucial business concept? If you think that good team leadership simply entails ordering your employees to perform tasks and delegating properly, you’re sadly mistaken. If you want to achieve good team leadership in your corporate culture, you have to understand what it is and what it is not.

1 . Focus on the Goals, Purpose and Approach

When team leaders are working on a project, it is crucial that the approach is an organized one. The purpose of the project must be understood by the entire team and the goals and approach should be understood by all.

When employees are working on a team project without goals that are relevant and meaningful, morale decreases and the project suffers because of it. If you want your employees to do their best, you have to make sure that they understand the purpose of the project and that the approach to the project are meaningful and relevant to the project goals.

2. The Ability to Instill Confidence and Commitment

A team is only as strong as the people within it. It is the team leader’s job to instill commitment and confidence in each member of the team. This not only increases team morale, but ensures that each team member has the confidence needed to perform their job efficiently and the commitment to the team to make sure the project gets done right.

3. Understanding Strength in Variety

When a team leader is building a team for a specific project, it is crucial that he or she ensures the proper mix of skills to strengthen the team as a whole. While it is okay to have some inexperienced players on a team, a team made up entirely of entry-level employees won’t get you very far. On the other hand, teams made up solely of executive management might result in a “too many cooks in the kitchen” scenario. Balance is the key to proper team development.

4. The Ability to Manage Team Relationships

Team leaders have to understand that the dynamics of a team can be changed with a single employee or contractor. If a team meshes well and works efficiently, bringing in an outside player might cause a disruption in the flow. If a team member is causing problems and bringing the team down, the team leader must be ready and willing to address the issue and, if necessary, remove the member from the team.

5. The Desire to Help Others Excel

A good team leader is not threatened by his or her team members. It should be the team leader’s goal to help his or her team members excel. This means creating opportunities that will allow each team member to shine, demonstrating his or her strengths and expertise. Team members who feel that all of the credit is going towards the team leader and experience no recognition or opportunity for advancement will not be as committed to the team and, therefore, will not be as productive.

6. Understanding that Nothing is Beneath You

Team leaders expect their teams to work hard, and that is understandable. However, a team leader should never expect an employee to do what he or she would not do themselves. If a team leader is willing to jump into the project, doing as much “real” work as the team members themselves, it will earn the respect of the team and more commitment from the members.