You're starting out in a team leadership role. How can you cultivate your leadership skills effectively?

To successfully develop your leadership abilities, prioritise active listening and straightforward communication. Gather input from your staff to better understand their needs and viewpoints. Encourage continual development via leadership training and mentorship. Encourage team participation and recognise accomplishments to create a collaborative environment. Develop emotional intelligence to manage interpersonal dynamics and establish trust. To inspire and encourage your staff, establish clear goals and set a good example. Regularly assess your leadership techniques and adjust to changing problems and opportunities.

I begin by understanding my strengths, weaknesses, and values, which allows me to lead authentically. Self-awareness helps me identify areas for growth, whether it's decision-making, communication, or conflict resolution. I also regularly seek feedback from my team and peers to gain insights into how my leadership style impacts others. By being open to learning and self-improvement, I can adapt and grow as a leader, ensuring that my leadership is grounded in self-knowledge and aligned with the needs of the team.

Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is critical in developing leadership skills. I’ve regularly reflected on my leadership style by seeking feedback from colleagues and mentors. This process helped me identify areas for improvement, such as communication or decision-making. By leveraging self-awareness, I can play to my strengths, such as my problem-solving ability, and improve weaker areas like delegation. Constant self-assessment ensures that I continue to grow and remain adaptable in my leadership approach.

While knowing yourself, your strength and weaknesses is important, being honest with yourself is key. What made you a strong IC, may no longer serve you as your transition into a leadership role. Reflect on what motivated you to become a manager, and what lies ahead for in the short and long term. Understand the gaps, and seek mentorship, training and guidance. There's no shame in asking for help. Think about your previous managers - what made them special? what would you like to pay forward, and what you'd rather leave behind, and work those into your leadership approach. And most importantly, be open to feedback, listen, be attentive and course correct, and don't forget even the most experienced managers haven't seen or heard it all.

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Conflict, when managed well, can actually drive innovation. The key is to address issues promptly, listen actively, and guide the team toward collaborative solutions that leverage everyone's strengths.

Run an anonymous 360 feedback to gather feedback from peers and your team members to provide an initial understanding on your perceived leadership style. Self awareness is an important piece and psychometric tools can also be utilized to understand more thyself. This helps one to learn more about yourself and also help to identify potential gaps to improve on.

Know your strengths and gaps: Reflect on your leadership style, what works and what doesn’t. Self-awareness is key to improvement. Be an active listener: Understand your team’s needs by listening carefully, not just to their words but to what motivates them. Encourage growth: Create a space where learning and feedback flow both ways. Your team's growth is your growth. Lead by example: Show, don’t just tell. Demonstrate the work ethic, communication, and adaptability you want to see. Stay adaptable: Leadership is fluid. Keep adjusting your approach based on feedback, changing team dynamics, and new challenges.

Clear goal setting is vital for both personal leadership development and guiding a team effectively. In my early leadership roles, I started by establishing clear, measurable objectives for the team, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals. I found that breaking down larger goals into smaller, actionable steps made it easier for the team to stay focused and motivated. I also use these goals as benchmarks for assessing both team and personal performance, which helps maintain accountability and focus.

Start with Clarity: Clear goals act as the roadmap. Break down larger objectives into smaller, actionable steps that the team can easily grasp and work towards. Encourage Open talks: Regularly discuss progress and setbacks with your team. This helps maintain focus and offers a chance to recalibrate if needed. Track Progress: Use measurable milestones to monitor success. This keeps the team motivated and allows you to celebrate small wins along the way. Adapt as Needed: Sometimes goals need adjustment. Stay flexible, and don’t hesitate to revisit and revise goals if they no longer fit the situation.

Goals provide a clear direction for your team. You should have knowledge and skills to understand what it takes to reach goals. Be transparent about everyone's roles and responsibilities. Set specific goals and create an action plan.

Effective leaders foster a collaborative environment where team members feel valued and heard. I make it a point to encourage open dialogue and create opportunities for everyone to contribute ideas. Collaboration strengthens team dynamics and leads to better decision-making. For example, in a previous project, bringing together cross-functional teams for brainstorming sessions led to innovative solutions that wouldn’t have been possible without a collaborative approach. Empowering the team to work together has always driven success in my experience.

The most important point for me is to start by creating an open and transparent environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and working together. Encouraging regular collaboration, whether through group discussions or cross-functional projects, helps build trust and strengthens relationships among all team members. I also ensure that communication is clear and appreciative, and that each team member understands how their contributions fit into the bigger picture. Actively listening and involving the team in decision-making is essential, as it empowers them to take ownership, which, in turn, allows me to grow as a collaborative and effective leader.

Creat opportunities for employees to communicate openly. Practice active listening. Establish effective communication channels. Foster a safe environment. Schedule meetings to allow your team members to contribute ideas freely.

Co-crear con el equipo una historia común que conecte su trabajo diario con un propósito mayor. Esta narrativa conjunta ayuda a alinear valores, inspira compromiso y da sentido a los desafíos. Liderar es también guiar a un equipo a ver el impacto más allá de la tarea, conectando su esfuerzo con el impacto que pueden crear.

Encourage open dialogue: Create a space where every team member feels comfortable sharing ideas, even the bold or unconventional ones. Value everyone's input: Make it clear that all contributions matter, which builds trust and a sense of ownership within the team. Promote cross-functional collaboration: Diverse perspectives often lead to creative problem-solving, driving innovation beyond what one group could achieve alone. Facilitate brainstorming sessions: Regular team discussions help surface fresh ideas, ensuring everyone has a chance to participate and contribute. Celebrate team wins: Acknowledge collective achievements, which boosts morale and strengthens the team's bond.

Timely, constructive feedback is a key leadership skill. I ensure that feedback is not only about correcting mistakes but also recognizing accomplishments. By focusing on actionable insights and maintaining a balance between positive reinforcement and areas of improvement, I’ve seen team morale and performance improve significantly. I also encourage two-way feedback, allowing team members to provide me with insights on how I can support them better, which creates a culture of mutual growth.

Focus on constructive feedback: Provide feedback that’s actionable and helps your team grow, balancing improvement points with recognizing achievements. Timeliness matters: Give feedback when it’s most relevant. Waiting too long might reduce its impact, while immediate feedback encourages quicker improvement. Encourage open dialogue: Ask for feedback from your team as well. Mutual feedback creates an environment of trust and shared growth. Recognize small wins: Acknowledging progress, even in small areas, boosts morale and motivates your team to keep improving. Lead by example: Show that you’re also open to learning and improving, which encourages your team to do the same.

Lead by example: Show up with integrity, passion, and consistency, your actions set the standard for the team. Clear communication: Ensure everyone knows the goals and feels comfortable sharing their ideas or concerns. Encourage collaboration: Value different perspectives and make sure each team member feels heard and involved. Stay adaptable: Be open to feedback and quick to adjust your approach when things aren’t working. Build trust: Be reliable, approachable, and transparent. This will create a culture of confidence and support.

I strongly believe that leading by example is one of the most effective ways to cultivate leadership skills. For me, it’s essential to role model the behaviours and work ethic I expect from my team - especially when it comes to staying accountable or maintaining a positive attitude under pressure. I always ensure that I demonstrate a strong commitment to the team’s goals and values, so that others are inspired to follow suit. Empathy and integrity in my interactions are also crucial, as this helps build a culture of trust and respect. By consistently setting high standards through my actions, I can create credibility and naturally develop my leadership abilities.

Prioritize clear and open communication, ensuring your team understands their goals and feels supported. Foster a collaborative environment by encouraging input and valuing diverse perspectives. Stay adaptable in your approach, being willing to learn from feedback and adjust your strategies as needed. Finally, build trust with your team by staying consistent, reliable, and approachable, which will inspire confidence and encourage others to follow your lead.

Leading by example is one of the most powerful leadership strategies. In my leadership journey, I’ve always emphasized walking the talk—whether it’s about maintaining work-life balance, meeting deadlines, or fostering open communication. I ensure my actions align with the values I expect from the team, which establishes credibility and trust. This approach not only motivates the team but also sets a standard for behavior and performance, ensuring accountability across the board.

Investing in both personal growth and the growth of your team is essential for long-term success. I regularly participate in leadership workshops, online courses, and mentoring programs to improve my skills. More so, I encourage my team to seek out learning opportunities and provide them with resources to help them grow. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, both I and my team can remain adaptive, skilled, and competitive in a fast-changing work environment.