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Growing companies and organizations require sophisticated leaders with the best team management skills. However, managing people is challenging, especially if we assume people dislike being managed and bossed around.
The modern workplace has evolved. And we need to refine our idea of managing knowledgeable workers if we want to be successful. So, what skills and qualities do you need to add to your managerial “toolbox” to do that?
Here, we will revisit the essential team management skills all managers need to lead successful projects. Then, we will look at some new and original ideas that will give you the edge in managing the ever-changing professional landscape.
Basic Team Management Skill
Let’s review some classic team management skills. These are the basics that you need to master to lead projects. Once we have mastered these skills, we can determine the extra skills we need to make specific to effectively leading modern teams.
1. Communication
Clear, effective communication is essential. But lately, you are probably communicating online more than you used to. This means that you have to step up your written communication.
You have to make a conscious effort to write short, straightforward sentences and structure your ideas and views in a way that is easy to understand. This will save your team time and effort. Consider taking a writing course to improve your written communication.
2. Planning
It is easy to plan for the things you expect. But what about the things that you don’t? For instance, what will your company do if a new and promising competitor emerges suddenly? In today’s volatile economic landscape, planning has to go beyond what we think is likely to happen. A good manager always thinks ahead and has contingency plans for disruptions.
3. Delegation
There is a saying that management is all about delegation. While this may be true, how you delegate tasks is also of crucial importance. The next time you give somebody a job to do, make sure to share your vision and expectations.
Explain your reasoning behind it and ask the person about their views. This way, you will engage them in the process, and they will be more eager and excited to complete the work. Often, hearing how they plan to approach the project will give you more insight into their understanding than trying to overexplain the objective.
4. Feedback
There is good feedback, and there is poor feedback. And then there is effective feedback. Remember that all feedback you give should be focused on progress and achieving excellent work. Make sure you tailor your feedback approach so that your team is most receptive to receiving it.
The art of giving feedback as a manager is to make it look like an open discussion where ideas are shared, and you work together to achieve an even better outcome. Do your best to be punctual with your feedback and speak only of recent performance.
5. Problem-solving
This is a complex and hard-to-acquire skill because it relies on many factors, such as industry knowledge and experience. It all comes down to your ability to think creatively and inventively.
It would be best to keep your mind sharp by nourishing it with helpful information, research, and actively seeking new ideas. Some of the best innovators and problem solvers find inspiration outside their industry, so keep an eye open when looking for great ideas.
6. Decision-making
As a manager, making decisions is part of your job. But we are lucky to have access to tons of free information and scientific research. The decisions you make, big or small, can be backed up by science and examples from around the world.
If you have to decide, there is a good chance that somebody has already done something similar. And you can learn from their experience.
4 Team Management Traits of a Great Modern Leader
In essence, being a good manager is being a good leader. And you have to embrace this role and see yourself as a person who people are willing to follow. Sure, at first, this idea might seem a little intimidating, but leadership is what sets a good manager and a great manager apart. Let’s look at the qualities you need to acquire to become a great modern leader.
1. Taking ownership
Taking ownership is a concept that goes beyond responsibility. You have to purposefully and personally take ownership of how your team is performing. The quality of their work should correspond to the standards you have set up.
If somebody is not performing as they should, you have to do everything you can to help them achieve the desired standard of work.
2. Kindness
We admire people who are strong, intelligent, brave, and take action. But we also want to follow people with good hearts who care about others.
So, a little kindness can go a long way. If you are curious and respect the people you manage, you will boost their morale while earning their trust. They would not want to disappoint you, so they will do their best to do great work.
3. 
No matter what stage of life you are at, never stop learning new things. Take the time to read and explore. Let your natural curiosity about the world lead you. Read new books, acquire new skills, and research interesting topics.
Continue to develop your persona. Expand your knowledge and wisdom to guide the people you are supposed to lead.
4. Empowering people
Sometimes, as leaders, fear of failure can cause us to make poor decisions. Like taking on too much work ourselves or overloading one team member who we believe to be the most capable.
Great leaders who effectively empower people to delegate objectives clearly while leaving room for creativity and innovation from their team members. That’s why you hired great people to begin with, right? So, allow them to impress and show what kind of talent they bring to the table.
To effectively empower your team, you need trust and open communication lines. Beyond that, you are responsible for making them feel supported by checking in and providing any resource as promptly as possible when asked.
How to Improve Team Management Skills in 3 Simple Steps
There is a good chance that you are already great at many of the team management skills outlined above. But there is always room for improvement if you know how to identify areas you lack. Here are a few simple steps that you can follow to quickly make changes toward becoming a better leader:
1. Identify your flaws
Make a checklist of your team management skills and highlight the areas you need to improve to be a better manager. If you have a trusted mentor or fellow leader in your organization who has worked closely with you in the past, ask for their feedback on the list you’ve compiled. Sometimes, their experience may help you spot an area you had previously overlooked.
2. Look for resources and support
Books, courses, and professional training can help you improve in all areas of team management. However, it is essential not to lose perspective. Some books are written from a specific perspective and set of experiences. These may not mirror your own. The industry and group of individuals you work with could differ significantly from what you read about. However, the more you learn and know, the more ideas and tactics you will have to experiment with until you’ve developed your signature leadership style.
3. Form better habits
Practice makes perfect. Take the knowledge you have acquired and put it into action. But not everything has to change overnight. Start with one small thing for a while. This way, you can see signs of the change’s impact on your team and projects. If you start to see improvements, solidify this new habit and move on to the next area of improvement.
The New Team Management Skills “Toolbox”
So, what else is there other than the essential team-handling skills? Below are a few extra skills you can add to your managerial “toolbox” to help you and your team achieve great work.
1. Detect & anticipate issues
Work-related issues emerge in any work environment. But how you deal with them speaks volumes about what kind of person you are. However, with experience and a little bit of foresight, you might be able to start detecting issues before they even arise. Resolving them as soon as possible is crucial to preserving a healthy workplace and team dynamic.
2. Discover potential
If detecting issues is fishing for the “negative,” we could argue that discovering potential is an active search for the positive. For example, you can see the potential in people you work with by improving certain areas or learning new skills.
3. Shield your team
As a team leader, you’re also a liaison to the higher-ups in your organization. Your job is to represent your team to leadership in the best way possible and help each member garner promotions and raises. You often speak for your team, but you also protect them from the harsh aspects of the industry you operate in. For instance, if you receive some worrisome information, It is your job to relay that information in the best manner and time you can. It is great to arrive with your own ideas for confronting the challenge but always ask for their input first. You may be surprised by the great ideas your team presents.
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4. Alignment and balance of goals
Your company’s goals might differ from your teammates’ individual goals. That is why you need to understand the personal motivations of the people you work with and do your best to find a middle ground between what they want to achieve professionally and the targets that have been set.
If you manage to find the balance, you will have a dedicated team of workers who will likely stick with you and the company.
Key Takeaways
- The essential team management skills include communication, planning, delegation, giving feedback, decision-making, and problem-solving.
- Be objective toward yourself and work to improve your managerial skills in case you have some weak points.
- To improve your skills, identify your flaws, look for resources and support, and form new habits to help reinforce your new knowledge.
- As a manager, I aim to be a fair and reliable person that others want to follow.
