Project managers often mistakenly believe that managing a small team is easier, but that is not always the case.
You are leading an R&D project. All of a sudden, a problem crops up, and the client wants the cause investigated. You tell the client that they will get the details in the next monthly meeting. Because you are already loaded with more responsibilities, you assign the task to your team members. The next client meeting comes, and the client asks for the details you promised. Sitting around you, quite visibly nervous and all sweat drained from face, are your team members to whom you had assigned the task.
Even without their saying, you tacitly understood that the task has not been carried out, but, in your mind, the most pressing questions are: How could you have possibly failed to manage this team? Where actually you have missed?
Managing a small team is not an easy feat. To manage, you have to adopt the following strategies.
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?
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.
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.
Though your team is small, you have the ability to manage and bring up your team to the next level. A well-managed team can achieve its obligations, responsibilities and goals within a specified duration of time. Never forget this thing: The success of your team is highly dependent on how professional, knowledgeable, and effective you are.
