Article

5 Tips on How to Lead a Team

January 10, 2025

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Emily May

When you think of a team leader, what comes to mind? You might think of goal setting, building a cohesive team, or conflict resolution. However, effectively leading a team moves far beyond these general capabilities. 

This article explores our top five tips on how to lead a team and educational resources for each. 

What Is Team Leadership?

Team leadership refers to one or more individuals who oversee, manage, and motivate a group of people. While team leadership applies to various group situations, such as volunteering or sports, this article discusses it in the context of corporate teams. 

The main benefits of effective team leadership include improved:

What skills does a team leader need? Read our article on the top ten in-demand leadership skills right now.

5 Tips on How to Lead a Team

How can you begin leveraging the benefits of impactful leadership in your team? Start with the five tips in this section. 

1. Be Present

Imagine sharing an original idea you’re excited about with a leader you admire. While you outline the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind the proposal, you realize they are disengaged and distracted. This disappointing scenario makes you feel your research and hard work go unnoticed. Furthermore, you’re less likely to research and pitch ideas in the future.

Effective leaders must be fully present with their team members to earn their trust. This focus enhances the impact of conversations, leading to active listening, appropriate social cues, powerful questioning, and innovative ideas. Positive outcomes skyrocket when team members feel their voices are heard and considered.

Learn How to Be Present

Presence is one of the key foundational coaching skills covered in ICAgile’s Coaching Essentials micro-credential course. This class will teach you how to improve communication within a team. 

2. Facilitate Cross-Functional Collaboration

cartoon of a three people together with bubbles of icons next to them showing different skills

Many organizations operate in silos–to the detriment of their customers and team members. For example, the product team collaborates within the product team, the customer service team collaborates within the customer service team, and so on. However, operating with tunnel vision creates missed opportunities. 

A great leader empowers innovation. One proven way to do so is by organizing cross-functional teams consisting of members with varying expertise. By combining different specializations and perspectives of the business, cross-functional teams can brainstorm fresh ideas to delight their customers.

Learn How to Facilitate Cross-Functional Collaboration

Inc. recommends setting goals that unite the cross-functional team from the start. The shared objective ensures that group members are on the same page to help prevent disagreements from arising. 

3. Prioritize Self-Development

Leaders should prioritize self-development to improve their personal agility. Self-development can include learning about emotional intelligence, self-awareness, self-management, and exploring one’s values or purpose. This inner work positively affects a leader’s personal and professional lives and relationships.

Leading by example can also motivate your team to adopt these behaviors. Education and emotional intelligence are key to a healthy and creative work culture. Through personal and team-wide development initiatives, teams grow together. 

Learn How to Prioritize Self-Development

The Leading with Agility course will teach you how to develop self-awareness, self-management, and emotional intelligence.

4. Develop Your Unique Leadership Style

cartoon of a person in a cape holding a flag that says leader

Several popular leadership styles exist, each with distinctive pros and cons. Instead of rigidly following one approach, leaders should develop their own unique leadership style. Borrow aspects of various leadership styles to accommodate personal values and the desired team culture. 

Some leadership styles promote agility more than others, creating a sense of autonomy, psychological safety, innovation, learning, and collaboration within teams. Leaders should adapt their style based on business goals and situational context. 

Learn How to Develop Your Unique Leadership Style

Find a coach or mentor to guide you through discovering your leadership style. Additionally, the Harvard Business School recommends being mindful when you find yourself imitating your favorite leaders. “The work of developing your own style doesn’t start outside the self, it starts from within.”

5. Lead From The Future

Leading from the future encourages leaders to move beyond goal-setting and use their imagination. In this practice, leaders visualize achieving their objectives to gain a new and positive perspective. What does future success look like, and how will it impact your decision-making now?

Forward-thinking leaders inspire innovation, growth, and adaptability in their teams. Additionally, leading from the future can assist business leaders in discovering market trends and opportunities. 

Learn How to Lead From The Future

Consider picking up a copy of Lead from the Future: How to Turn Visionary Thinking Into Breakthrough Growth from your favorite bookstore or local library. Authors Mark W. Johnson and Josh Suskewicz introduce a visionary method called “future-back,” a practical approach to leading from the future. 

Next Steps on Your Learning Journey

cartoon of a person standing on books while thinking about leadership

The role of a team leader requires well-rounded capabilities beyond the traditional job description–from self-development to facilitating cross-functional collaboration. However, don’t worry if you don’t check all of the boxes. Leaders at every level, including those at the top of their game, continually grow, learn, and expand their skill set. 

Are you interested in exploring the courses mentioned in this article? 

The Leading with Agility course is an in-depth curriculum for leaders seeking development in personal agility, relationship agility, and leading change and transformation. Download the Leading with Agility learning outcomes to learn more.

If you’re looking for a shorter learning experience, take the Coaching Essentials course on the fundamentals of coaching, an essential leadership skill.

We look forward to partnering with you on your leadership journey!

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TAGGED AS:
Leading Change, Agility in Leadership, Leading with Agility

About the author

Emily May | ICAgile, Marketing Specialist
Emily May is a Marketing Specialist at ICAgile, where she helps educate learners on their agile journey through content. With an eclectic background in communications supporting small business marketing efforts, she hopes to inspire readers to initiate more empathy, productivity, and creativity in the workplace for improved internal and external outcomes.

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