Successful ‘Dream Teams’ don’t just happen! It takes time, energy and ongoing commitment to build the individuals in a team. The leadership role involves being a role model, guiding, encouraging and motivating staff.

By developing and implementing leadership skills in the workplace you will be able to direct, inspire and influence the behavior of your team to:

– Willingly strive to achieve the goals and objectives of the organisation.
– Act responsibly and take ownership of their individual roles whilst feeling more of a sense of personal achievement.

Leadership skills can be learnt and combined with sound employee management methodology which will heighten performance and productivity.

Below are some leadership tips for managers/supervisors:

Lead people in terms of where they are – not in terms of what you find easiest – analyse the requirements of each person and adapt your leadership style to suit the employee. People will cooperate better with you if you approach them in a manner suited to their personality.

Communicate consistently and openly – the more you connect with individuals, the more you will be able to create an environment that causes them to produce at their highest level. Use the correct communication format. Be assertive not aggressive

Be available – keep an open door policy to promote communication.

Develop the skills of those around you – if you develop a team member successfully, you can move from directing to coaching, to supporting and finally to delegating.

Create a clear sense of direction – clarify aims and goals. Identify progress and acknowledge achievements.

Build Trust – the single most important factor in building personal and professional relationships. Trust is the glue that binds followers and leaders together. Trust implies accountability, predictability and reliability. People first must believe in you before they will follow your leadership.

Develop credibility – be consistent in what you say and do. Be confidential and ethical, employees must feel comfortable talking to you. Do not break promises, gossip or withhold information.

Be a role model for them – walk the job. Be proactive – take the initiative and be responsible and accountable for your own decisions.

Learn the professional aspirations of all team members – support their efforts to achieve them and make people feel that they are important

Empower individuals – encourage employees to acquire new skills. Once learnt the task should be delegated with full responsibility giving the individual a sense of achievement, added self confidence and a sense of adding value in the workplace.

Evaluate performance objectively – employees really want to do a good job. The problem is often they don’t know what a good job is, because the clues from management and leadership are unclear. Give clear job descriptions, and the specific goals and objectives for that individual should be developed.

All successful teams share some common characteristics. If as a team leader you can cultivate these qualities in your group, they will become a cohesive team capable of leaping tall buildings or performing any other required task.

‘Motivate your people, train them, care about them and make winners of them….’ J W Marriot

Kwelanga Training has offices based in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. We present public training courses at corporate venues in:

• Johannesburg – Southern Sun Hotel, Katherine Street, Sandton
• Pretoria – Southern Sun Hotel, Arcadia, Pretoria
• Cape Town: Southern Sun Hotel, Newlands
• Durban: Hilton Hotel, North Beach
• Port Elizabeth: Cherry Place, Walmer

On-site training can be presented at any location in Southern Africa, our facilitators will train at your premises

For further information contact:
Julie Shoobridge
Tel: +27 11 704 0720
Email: julie@kwelangatraining.co.za

Website: www.kwelangatraining.co.za

“Shedding Light on Skills Development”