Here's how you can excel in your late career as a team leader by developing key skills.

The world renowned sushi chef Jiro Ono said at the age of 75 (after perfecting his sushi skills for more than 50 years!): "I still have a lot to learn about sushi. There's so much I don't know yet." Never stop learning. Embrace a growth mindset, no matter how experienced you are. The best team leaders practice "professional self doubt": Having the confidence to continuously question and evaluate your skills and ways of working, in order to improve. Contrary to the famous saying: One can actually teach an old dog new tricks.

In your late career, embracing change is crucial for effective leadership. I've regurlarly observed executive teams with similar leadership styles, sticking to what they know. However, staying open to new ideas and connecting with the younger generation is vital. This connection fosters mutual growth—veterans offer wisdom, while newcomers provide fresh insights. By embracing change, you create a dynamic, adaptable team environment.

Every leader must not only know how to accept and manage change in his or her team, but must also know how to accompany his or her colleagues so that they are aware of it and can accept it comfortably and without great resistance. Although not everything is under our control and not everything depends on us, acceptance is learning to live with situations or people that sometimes we cannot change. Although the word accept is not usually well regarded, in a society in which we are taught that attitude is everything and therefore we have no limits. This is not true, since people do have limits and we must know, know and properly manage ours and those of our peers.

After almost 10 years of project management career, in 201x our company, like most software companies, started an Agile transformation. I deeply connected with Agile from the very first days and took an active part in the transformation methodology working group. Today, I use Agile practices everywhere. What has helped me to apply it so effectively? A change of mindset, flexibility and adaptability to new management techniques and the most important ability to see the big picture. This is what I lead my team towards.

A mudan?a é um fator que impulsiona o crescimento e o desenvolvimento, portanto é essencial ao líder que crie uma cultura onde todos compreendam a importancia de estar aberto e preparado para o novo.

Comunica??o é a chave para que haja entendimento e sinergia na equipe, porém é essencial que ocorra com transparência e assertividade.

I completely agree that leadership development is a continuous journey. In my experience, focusing on communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills is crucial for a project manager. Clear communication helps align the team with the project's goals and ensures everyone knows their responsibilities, strong problem-solving and decision-making builds open communication, trust and confidence within the team. Embracing personal development not only enhances your skills but also sets a positive example for your team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Sharpening your leadership skills is an ongoing process that requires dedication. Focus on enhancing your communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. Good communication ensures your team understands their roles and objectives. Effective problem-solving helps navigate complex situations, while strong decision-making instills confidence in your leadership. Seek feedback from peers and subordinates to identify areas for improvement and commit to personal development.

Pienso que la confianza es el cimiento principal de toda relación laboral, sin confianza no existiría un buen clima laboral, el cual permita desarrollar el potencial al máximo de un equipo de trabajo. Con la confianza aumentan los niveles de compromiso, comunicación efectiva -y sin temor, resolución de problemas, innovación y rendimiento en general del equipo. Dar confianza si bien es cierto, es parte fundamental de un liderazgo efectivo, hay que mantener la línea del respeto, la coherencia de las palabras que comunicamos honesta y transparentemente.

Trust is one of the main pillars of human connection. As a team leader, you must trust your team and be trusted by them. Building trust requires consistent, daily effort grounded in transparent communication and mutual respect on both personal and professional levels. Remember, if you break that trust, it can have a critical impact on the entire team, and rebuilding it might be nearly impossible.

En mi experiencia, siempre es mejor involucrarse directamente en cada proyecto que gestiona el equipo, esto además de poder atender de cerca cada necesidad, no da una perspectiva directa de cada talento humano en el desarrollo del plan. Además, visto desde el liderazgo; demostramos uno a uno, el valor que genera su trabajo en la organización y reconocemos directamente las contribuciones que hacen en cada objetivo logrado. El trabajo hombro a hombro siempre es una buen ejemplo para ense?ar con el ejemplo.