3 Things Not to do as a Team Leader

There are more than 3 things not to do as a team leader, but these were my big 3. I’m highly qualified to share on this topic. You see, at one time, I was an ineffective manager. I’d hit my quotas often enough to hold on to the sales management position, but I had constant turnover and didn’t lead my team to their potential. Often, I got in their way rather than helping my team achieve new levels of success. Here’s some of what I did wrong.

3 Things Not to Do as a Team Leader1. Manage People Like They Were a Project

Managing a project can be a step-by-step system that nearly always stays the same. Most often, but not always, when the activity is repeated, it can be done successfully the same. I thought it was the same for managing people. I thought what worked with one would work with everyone. What I failed to factor was the human equation. You don’t manage people like a project. You must consider individual motivations, learning styles, and knowledge, and form a plan specifically for each person.

2. Think One Strategy For All, and All For One

I thought a strategy should work with all clients if it worked with one client. Shouldn’t it work with all if one target audience responds to a plan? No. Instead of teaching universal sales techniques, I should’ve spent time training how to determine each audience’s pain, what problems they had, and how to solve them.

3. Base Goals only on Results, not Activities

I was obsessed with sales goals. I conducted goal sessions monthly with every individual. The sales and marketing teams set weekly goals, and the organization had yearly goals that were tracked month-to-month and compared to the same month from the previous year. However, when I reviewed goals, I focused on the results. Either you didn’t hit your goal, so next month, you need to do more, or congratulations, you hit your goal.

What I should have done was tie the results to activities.

If a sales rep hit their goal, I should’ve recognized and reinforced the activities to repeat. And when they failed to meet their goal, I should’ve pointed out activities to improve or eliminate. I should’ve asked where the person needed help or training.

How Effective Are Your Management Activities?  

There’s more but why not start with these 3 things not to do as a team leader? Are you leading people or managing projects? Do you set goals based on activities to continue, eliminate, or improve, or do you strictly look at the results? Do you believe one sales strategy fits all your clients and sales team? If so, you’re walking the streets I paved, and those streets lead to disappointment. The good news is if you recognize these behaviors in yourself, you can change. I did.

How Can I Help You? 

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me. 

So, does your business have a management training plan? Because if not, many organizations, large and small, use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. Check it out. It might help you stop putting off what you want to do.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like, Why Communication in the Workplace Sucks

Photo by Anna Samoylova on Unsplash

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