Managing a small team is not an easy feat. To manage, you have to adopt the following strategies.
- Strategy 1: Focus
When you are dealing multiple tasks among a team of 10 or 15 members, it is quite important that ideas and tasks are documented. Otherwise, it is easy to miss some important elements of your business. You have to focus on the strength and weakness of your team members. You ought to help your team members to come out of their weakness, and at the same time, you also appreciate their strong areas. Once you tapped them on their shoulders, they will get more energy to move further. If you only focus on your project by sidelining the issues of your team, how will you bring the project to success?
- Strategy 2: Maintain good communication
An age-old aphorism goes, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” An efficient leader can be identified with good communication skills. As a leader, you should how to handle your team with proper communication. If anything goes wrong in the lines of communication channels, then everything would at sevens and sixes. Speaking is not communication. Communication is a skill. Either it is oral or written, with proper communication, you feel that everything is in its place. You can also body language when communicating with your team. For example, you can smile as well as use handshakes and eye contact.
- Strategy 3: Listen to your team members
Have you ever thought that why God gave you two ears and one mouth? God has created in such a way because you must listen more than you speak. Don’t just talk because you are the leader without listening to anyone else. Give your team members free space to talk freely. Practice listening to the queries and suggestions of your team members. Then you will get many new ideas, which really help you a lot in your business sphere.
- Strategy 4: Promote a work-life balance
As the leader of the pack, your staff sees you as an inspiration and motivator. Hence, it is important to set a good example in your work and personal ethics to gain their complete trust and respect. Make sure to do your job professionally, while supporting your team to do the same.
Learn to manage your workload to prevent the feeling of being overstretched, grumpy, and unapproachable. Negative behavior and attitude are highly contagious, affecting the atmosphere of the working environment. Delegate other tasks that interfere with your prime duties.
Watch out for the signs of burnout or stress among your staff to ensure their well-being at all times. As their leader, you can set positive and healthy boundaries of work and relaxation. If possible, have a flexible work routine that includes a work-from-home schedule.
