Leadership Among Small Teams
When people think of leaders, they often imagine the chief executive of large organizations. However, leadership among small teams is far more common and makes a substantially greater difference in the world on a daily basis. Throughout my career, I have led teams of many different shapes and sizes. However, like the vast majority of leaders, I have spent more time leading small and medium sized teams than I have large ones. That being said, don’t let these words of scale fool you, despite their size, the even the smallest teams I have been fortunate to lead have accomplished some incredible goals.
One of my teams launched and led a regional industry disrupting senior care service which forced many others to drastically improve their services or shut down due to their terrible track record. Our team was quickly recognized by many industry leaders as a standard to follow and many in the field still cite my old team as the reason they do what they do today. Another one of my small teams transformed a church slated for immediate closure into a faith community which not only still exists as a spiritual home for many but has served as a guide and inspiration for other churches with similar sizes and circumstances. A third small team I was fortunate to lead, moved an entire community from the brink of bankruptcy and state intervention to locally led and managed economic renewal. Perhaps in the future I’ll write in more detail about the accomplishments of these teams. For today, I simply want to offer what I consider to be the most vital aspects of leadership among small or medium sized teams.
Effective leadership is crucial for the success of any team, but it can be particularly challenging to lead a small team toward significant goals. Small teams often have fewer resources and less support than larger ones, which means that leaders need to be even more proactive and strategic in their approach. Here are a few tips for effectively leading a small team:
Set clear goals and expectations: It's important that everyone on the team knows exactly what they are working toward and what is expected of them. Make sure to communicate your goals and expectations clearly and regularly to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Foster a positive team culture: A positive team culture can make a huge difference in the success of a small team. Encourage open communication, show appreciation for your team members' contributions, and create a sense of community within your team.
Be available and approachable: As a leader, it's important that you are available to your team when they need you. Make sure to check in with team members regularly and be open to their ideas and feedback.
Delegate effectively: Small teams often rely on each team member to take on a variety of tasks and responsibilities. As a leader, it's important that you delegate effectively to ensure that everyone is working to their strengths and that tasks are completed efficiently.
Stay organized and prioritize: With limited resources, it's essential that you stay organized and prioritize tasks effectively. This will help ensure that your team is working on the most important tasks first and that you are making the most of your time and resources.
Overall, effective leadership with small teams requires clear communication, a positive team culture, and the ability to delegate and stay organized. By following these tips, you can help ensure that your small team is successful and able to achieve goals far beyond the scope of its perceived ability. Small teams which are led well truly are greater than the sum of its individual parts.