How can you improve your team's performance with better leadership and interpersonal skills?

1 Define your vision and values

One of the first steps to improve your team's performance is to clarify your vision and values. What is the purpose of your project? What are the core principles that guide your work? How do you want your team to communicate and collaborate? By defining your vision and values, you can align your team around a common direction and create a sense of identity and belonging.

2 Communicate effectively and frequently

Communication is key for any team, but especially for remote or hybrid teams that rely on digital tools. To communicate effectively and frequently, you need to use the right channels, formats, and styles for your messages. For example, you can use video calls for brainstorming and feedback, email for updates and reports, and chat for quick questions and check-ins. You also need to be clear, concise, and respectful in your communication, and avoid jargon, ambiguity, and sarcasm.

3 Delegate and empower your team members

Another way to improve your team's performance is to delegate and empower your team members. Delegating means assigning tasks and responsibilities to the most suitable people, based on their skills, interests, and availability. Empowering means giving them the authority, resources, and support to complete their tasks, without micromanaging or interfering. By delegating and empowering your team members, you can increase their motivation, autonomy, and accountability.

4 Provide constructive feedback and recognition

Feedback and recognition are essential for improving your team's performance, as they help your team members learn from their mistakes, improve their skills, and celebrate their achievements. To provide constructive feedback and recognition, you need to be specific, timely, and balanced. For example, you can use the SBI model, which stands for situation, behavior, and impact, to describe what the person did, how it affected the project or the team, and what they can do differently or keep doing well.

5 Encourage collaboration and creativity

Collaboration and creativity are vital for solving problems, generating ideas, and delivering innovative solutions. To encourage collaboration and creativity, you need to create a safe and supportive environment where your team members can share their opinions, suggestions, and feedback, without fear of judgment or criticism. You also need to facilitate and participate in collaborative and creative activities, such as brainstorming sessions, workshops, or hackathons, where your team members can interact, learn, and have fun.

6 Resolve conflicts and address issues

Conflicts and issues are inevitable in any team, but they can also be opportunities for growth and improvement. To resolve conflicts and address issues, you need to be proactive, respectful, and solution-oriented. You need to identify the root causes of the conflict or issue, listen to different perspectives and emotions, and negotiate a mutually acceptable outcome. You also need to follow up and monitor the situation, and ensure that the conflict or issue does not affect the team's performance or morale.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?