How team leaders contribute to employee success

Big picture thinking involves focusing on the vision and macro aspects of the organization. It is the ability to create high-level plans for long-term strategies and is usually mostly characteristic of team leaders.

Team leaders with this point of view and the right vision lead their teams to success.

When employees clearly understand the bigger picture and have transparent communication and all the necessary information, they are able to better define their work and focus on the most important tasks. Simple, but not that simple, right?

Let's explain a little more.

The role of leadership in organizations

Organizational success is not just the amount of financial profit a company has made. There are so many more things that count, like employee satisfaction and commitment, market reputation, brand visibility, sustainable growth, adaptability to change etc. 

In all these things - leaders play an important role. 

Team leaders are usually well familiar with the organizational goals and main strategies, both long term and short. They are the ones who, on the other hand, delegate tasks and enable the company to achieve these goals from various sides, usually using the expertise and knowledge of their team members.

Clearly, effective leadership requires more than technical expertise; it requires adequate communication and a set of soft skills. In this context, talent management solutions and performance appraisal software emerge as invaluable tools, enabling leaders to identify and leverage the strengths of their team members, while providing structured frameworks for evaluating and improving individual and collective performance.

The most important skills one team leader should possess 

Leadership competencies are different depending on the team and company they work for and the knowledge they need, but some things are always the same, whether you have them or not. If you are not good at communication, problem solving or lack empathy - it will be difficult for you to lead a team.

Here are the most important soft skills for team leaders:

1. Managing yourself 

A person can effectively manage others and succeed in the role of leader only if he is able to manage himself.

2. Supporting self-organization 

Leaders know they can't do it alone. Providing clear guidelines while allowing employees to organize their own time and work creates a sense of greater responsibility and job satisfaction.

3. Creating a sense of belonging

Leaders who create a sense that every success and failure is a result of teamwork build strong relationships with people. 

4. Being open and transparent

If a leader has these skills, they encourage learning and bigger productivity; if they don't, they risk suffocating it.

5. Nurtures growth

Both, personal and organizational. OKR performance management plays a huge role here as these systems provide a structured framework for setting objectives and key results (OKRs), enabling individuals and teams to align their efforts with organizational and personal goals. By regularly monitoring progress and providing feedback, OKRs foster a culture of continuous improvement and people development.

How to boost employee morale and productivity

A huge effect of leadership is its impact on employee morale and productivity. Competent leaders understand the importance of creating a supportive workplace culture where employees feel valued, motivated and heard. They prioritize the professional development of their employees, offer constructive and instant feedback, and recognize and celebrate their achievements.

When employees experience motivation and recognition, their productivity increases. They even exceed expectations, offer new perspectives and demonstrate loyalty to the organization. Therefore, leadership directly affects the productivity of employees, thereby promoting the triumph of the organization.

Here are a few tips you can use (daily):

1. Designate a meeting-free day each week 

You already work long hours, unnecessary crowding in meetings can raise stress and lower the morale of your employees. Instead, when holding meetings, try to be concise and stay on topic. Your team will be encouraged to be more efficient in those meetings if you make one day without meetings.

2. Open an employee rewards and recognition channel 

These procedures encourage employee participation through fun social recognition with points-based rewards. But people like to praise them publicly. So why not try creating a recognition channel on slack or create some kind of recognition newsletter that employees receive every month via email?

3. Bring pets into your office

Or at least have one day a month when people can do it (if you have an office that could support this idea). Cuddling a furry friend during the workday reduces stress and increases productivity.

4. Encourage development

Instead of Excel, try using some okr performance management software. It is the future and will definitely help reduce the time it takes to conduct a review cycle. Also, you will have everything in one place. Employee profiles, career paths, development plans and feedback will be like easy-to-use and manage boxes for both you and your employees.

Final note

Remember that leadership is not just about using power and being the main character; it's about motivating others to reach their full potential. This includes leading by example, encouraging teamwork and fostering a culture of feedback.