How To Choose Effective Team Leaders for Your Business

how to choose effective company team leader business leadership

There are millions of businesses in the United States, which means that there are millions of team leaders. Often, an employer's workforce heavily relies on the duties and responsibilities undertaken by a team leader. 

However, choosing the right team leader for your business and employees can be a challenge, especially if you're not familiar with the process. In this article, we'll explore the qualities you'll want to look for when choosing a new team leader. 

We'll also take you through the hiring process, step-by-step. This way, you can feel more confident and prepared, allowing you to make the best possible choice from your pool of candidates. 

What Qualities Should You Look For In A Team Leader? 

Before you can begin the hiring process, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the personal qualities of an effective team leader. This position does require patience, honesty, and a substantial amount of willpower. 

Team leaders will also need to be excellent communicators, so it's worthwhile to choose someone who has no difficulty meeting new people. Still, charisma isn't enough. 

To find the best team leader for your business, you'll need to choose a candidate that shows: 

• Integrity 
• Patience 
• Respect 
• Flexibility 
• Self-Motivation 
• Kindness 

Feel free to add additional qualities that you may be looking for in a candidate. However, be sure that your extra characteristics do not conflict with these core values. 

Integrity 

Integrity is an essential characteristic that every employee should uphold. However, some workers aren't afraid to abandon their principles, leaving them with little professional integrity. 

You can gauge a potential employee's integrity by asking questions about their previous employment. A candidate with a high level of integrity is unlikely to speak about their former employers in a negative light. 

A good team leader must have the integrity to do their job correctly and effectively. A dishonest individual cannot be a superior team leader, as they cannot build trust with their employees or supervisors. 

Patience 

Team leaders must be patient with their employees. Candidates that show little patience may not be the best choice. That's because patience is a crucial part of listening. 

If a team leader isn't patient enough to listen to the concerns of others, they cannot communicate worries, needs, and tasks effectively. They are more likely to brush-off vital responsibilities and pursue their own tasks. 

Respect 

In addition to integrity and patience, team leaders must also show respect. While this may seem like an obvious trait, it's crucial to note the difference between showing managers respect and showing employees respect. 

A candidate may be quite charming and flattering to their interviewer or upper management, but they may treat lower-rank employees with disrespect. This makes for an uncomfortable, unpleasant, and disrespectful work environment and culture. 

Always ensure that your preferred candidate is respectful of all co-workers, supervisors, and clients. 

Flexibility 

A high-quality team leader will also need to be flexible. Team leaders often relay changes in policy or technique with employees, and this can be frustrating for some. 

If you hire someone who prefers for systems and processes to remain consistent, they may grow upset with changes and fail to share them with their team. It's imperative to choose a team leader who shows flexibility. 

You can gauge this characteristic by asking your candidates about their adaptability. If they do not show excitement or confidence in their ability to adapt quickly to changing situations or policies, they may be fit for the role of team leader. 

Self-Motivation 

Anyone in a leadership role needs to possess self-motivation. Rather than allowing others to micromanage their work, team leaders tend to take responsibility for their actions and time by going above and beyond described duties. 

This helps them continue to lead and inspire. By consistently remaining self-motivated, team leaders ensure that their team members are also motivated. They also avoid falling behind on work or failing to communicate new information. 

It can be a challenge to gauge self-motivation during an interview. However, scheduling a second interview can help interviewers explore this characteristic. 

Candidates that are eager to work with you will often show enough self-motivation to call, email, or contact you between the first interview and the second one. 

Kindness 

Finally, you will want to choose a team leader that exhibits a high level of kindness. This trait is often viewed as a form of weakness in the business work, but when you're choosing a team leader, it is crucial to choose a people-person. 

Unkind individuals can be excellent workers, but they often fail as salespeople, service agents, or team leaders. If your preferred candidates are qualified and organized, but unkind, they may not make great team leaders. 

A great sign to look for when interviewing candidates is politeness. Candidates who are kind will often show gratitude for the simplest of gestures, and they will not hesitate to say 'thank you' or 'please'. 

How To Choose A Good Team Leader 

Now that you're familiar with the qualities you'll want to look for in a team leader, it's time to explore the hiring process. While you could choose to undertake this task in a variety of ways, there is a tried-and-true method that might work for you. 

Everything begins with casting your net wide and long, ensuring that the maximum number of potential candidates find your employment offer. However, you'll also want to be transparent about the nature of the position. You could also use a few tools. 

Let's take a quick look at the steps you could take to find an exceptional team leader. 

1. Cast Your Net Wide 

When you're looking for a team leader, you don't want to leave any log unturned. This means taking to local newspaper ads, posting online, and reaching out to your current employees. By casting your net as wide as possible, you can ensure that you receive a fantastic amount of responses from a variety of candidates. The more potential team leaders you have to interview, the more chances you have at finding the best one. 

2. Use Interview Tools and Tactics 

If you're not familiar with interviewing others, you may want to familiarize yourself with common interview tactics. Understanding your own presence, as well as your interviewee's body language, can help you feel more confident and comfortable. 

You could also choose to have your interviewee take a brief leadership test. Assessment tests are an excellent way of gauging a candidate's compatibility with your business. 

3. Be Patient 

Lastly, you'll need to be patient. Finding the best team leader for your employees and business isn't something you should do quickly. Take your time when making a decision and practice patience. This will ensure you make the best choice for your business team leader. 

Hire The Best Team Leader For Your Business 

Hiring the best team leader for your business means knowing what to look for. Always ensure that your chosen candidate exemplifies certain qualities, like patience, respect, integrity, and kindness. 

It's also crucial to cast your hiring net wide. Doing so will allow you to find plenty of potential team leaders. You'll also need to communicate the nature of the position and its required tasks. It's vital to be patient during the interview process. 

You may want to utilize a few interview tools and tricks, including assessment tests. Doing so can help you ensure that you find the best team leader for your company and team. 

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out our related business leadership articles now! Visit the Startups section of the Bootstrap Business Bog to learn more about team leader tactics and company leadership strategies.

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