Pic: inpix-lite/IndiaPicture

No team can work efficiently without the invaluable guidance of a team leader. A good manager is a person who responsibly presides over the team, manages them and helps in the proficient handling of any project

A team leader encourages his/her team, keeps up their morale and helps them retain focus. But effective leadership requires the cooperation, obedience and hard work of other team members as well. Lazy or incompetent members of a team can act as rotten apples in a basket and it is very important for a team leader to handle them in a diplomatic and professional manner.

Arvinder Soora, HR head, Planet Retail, tells us the qualities of a good leader, "To begin with, the most important ingredient of being a good leader is knowledge. He/she has to be competent enough to sort all hurdles and technical snags encountered by the team. This will also help him/her gain the respect and confidence of the team. He/she should also know exactly what makes each team member click. It is extremely important for the leader to connect with his/her team. This creates a harmonious and conducive work environment that takes away a major part of the work-related stress. Lastly, the leader should be able to bond the team together, where everyone takes ownership and pride in collective efforts and success."

With notions of strict professional relationships out of the window, the quality of getting along with team-mates has become especially crucial. Chandra Ganjoo, general manager, human resource, Trivitron Healthcare, elaborates on its importance, "A leader should always be seen as a part of the team working towards the common team goal. He/she should be one among them. It is essential for one to be magnanimous and ensure that the credit of successes is spread as widely as possible while he/she takes personal responsibility for failures. One should be approachable and fun to work with. This will make his/her encouragement and motivation welcome and effective."

The skills of a team leader are tested the most when he/she encounters lazy or incompetent team-mates. It is critical that one handles such situations patiently as well as tactfully. Rahul Kulkarni, HR, Kale Consultants, tells us the course to be taken, "At times, when a team member feels disinterested or ineffectual the situation must be treated in a way so that the member realises his/her responsibilities and engages in the task efficiently. If a team-mate is incompetent, the team leader must try to understand the whole situation from a third person's perspective. Secondly, the team leader should talk and discuss the issue with the particular person and try to come out with an effective solution. If this approach does not work, then the person should be trained in another domain wherein one's able to take up tasks as a challenge. If the team-mate is lazy, the team leader is required to motivate one towards work by making him/her understand the major role, which an individual plays within the company by adding value to it. If this approach doesn't work, then the team leader should report the matter to one's superiors, without any delay. The team leader should also ascertain that the concerned team member is fully briefed about the consequences one might face on taking the work responsibility seriously."

Thus, it is essential that a team leader learns to efficiently manage his/her team-mates and builds a strong bond of understanding among them.

- Palak Bhatia