What are the main responsibilities of a team leader?

Updated 1 February 2024

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People climb a set of stairs while holding hands, next to a list with the title "Responsibilities of a team leader" and these items: - Providing direction and guidance
- Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of team members
- Organising tasks and setting goals
- Upholding the vision of the group
- Solving problems and resolving conflicts

An effective team leader can take a disparate group of people and turn them into a cohesive team. If you're a team leader, you may have a range of responsibilities you need to manage during your work. Understanding these responsibilities can help you lead your team more effectively. In this article, we discuss the primary responsibilities of a team leader as well as the characteristics that make an effective team leader.

What is a team leader?

A team leader is the recognised leader of a group of people working to achieve a common goal. Such a person is often assigned the team leader role by an authority figure, such as a manager in the workplace or a teacher in the classroom. Alternatively, other group members who recognise their leadership abilities may appoint them as a leader.For some group members, staying motivated throughout the duration of a project is often difficult. A team leader is important because they are responsible for ensuring that a vision is achieved and motivate other group members to keep going. By modelling exemplary behaviours, others are encouraged to follow suit.Related: Boss vs Leader: Qualities and Differences

What are the responsibilities of a team leader?

Even though a team leader fulfils a variety of roles, the main responsibilities of a team leader are grouped under five categories:

1. Providing direction and guidance

A team leader is supposed to clearly understand what their team is tasked to achieve. This is so that they can effectively guide other members in the right direction. This form of clarity sometimes comes from constant communication with the higher authority who gave the instructions in the beginning.Example: Chloe is the team leader of group 4, one of the groups for a collaborative project module at the Academy of Economics. The lecturer has given them a brief on their project, but Chris still does not understand what it's about. Chloe makes sure to look through the brief carefully and confirm some ambiguities with the lecturer, which she then carefully explains to Chris.Related: How To Become a Chief of Staff

2. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of team members

It's important that a team leader is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of other members of the group. That way, they know how best to allocate tasks. Team leaders may learn this by observing how members cope with certain activities or asking them specifically what they believe they are best at.Example: John is also part of Chloe's group for the collaborative project at the Academy of Economics. They have an oral presentation coming up soon, and while John is good at creating interactive PowerPoint slides, he isn't fluent in speaking English. In comparison, Chris is an excellent public speaker, so Chloe assigns him the task of presenting, while John is tasked with creating the presentation slides.

3. Organising tasks and setting goals

When multiple team members are working on a project together, organisation is essential to keep people from feeling overwhelmed and reduce confusion. Thus, a team leader is responsible for clearly highlighting each member's individual goals and keeping track of their progress.Example: As a team leader within the IT department of his company, Robert keeps track of every team member's tasks and how they are progressing by keeping minutes in their weekly meetings. Before every meeting, he also clearly outlines important topics of discussion, which he then shares with the rest of the group to ensure they can keep on task each week.Related: Top Strategies To Define Your Team's Roles and Responsibilities

4. Upholding the vision of the group

Usually, when a group of people comes together for a task, they state or write down what they intend to achieve with the project in the future. It's the team leader's responsibility to continually remind team members of this vision, especially when they start to feel demotivated. Ensuring that every member's task aligns with the vision is another way for the team leader to provide guidance.Example: A small group of entrepreneurs decided to work with Harry to launch a boutique advertising consultancy in Birmingham. However, some of the team members are showing signs of burnout because of how tough it has been to gain clients. Harry makes it a point of duty to introduce the vision statement at every meeting so that everyone remembers it and can focus on their goals.Related: 5 scenario-based team leader interview questions and answers

5. Solving problems and resolving conflicts

Apart from general problems regarding confusion with tasks, team leaders may find themselves resolving conflict between different members of their groups. Conflict may occur because each member has their own unique personality, and sometimes they might clash with others. An effective team leader applies wisdom when faced with a problem and carefully considers all relevant viewpoints before making a decision.Example: Andrew and Steven are arguing in their team's group chat. Andrew is upset that Steven has not finished preparing the outline for their upcoming project, so he can't start on his own responsibilities yet. Their team leader Jessica messages Andrew and Steven separately to try and understand the cause of the delay. Then, she talks to both of them together in the group chat and encourages them to explain their points calmly and respectfully.

Characteristics of an effective team leader

To be an effective team leader, it's important to possess certain qualities. These qualities may come naturally to you, but you can also learn them over time. They help create an environment of trust so that other members of the group are willing to listen and follow you. A few of these characteristics include:

Relationship-building

An effective team leader understands the importance of collaboration. They are skilled in creating an environment where members of the group are willing to work together to achieve a common goal. The way they communicate the shared goal plays a part in getting their team to believe in it enough to work together.Read more: Team-Building Skills: Definition and Examples

Patience

Being a good leader means that you must be patient at all times. Sometimes, a team leader may have to repeat themselves to a group member or someone who does not deliver their task on time. These are situations that are best handled with care and respect.Related: 23 essential tips for improving your leadership skills

Influential

A good leader is clear and concise when communicating information. Their speech is influential in a way that inspires other members of the team. They also understand the importance of using positive language to encourage people towards achieving their goals.

Decisive

When needed, a good leader can make and enforce decisions. This quality is especially necessary for time-sensitive situations. After they make their decisions, good leaders can confidently defend why they chose them.Related: Differences between team coordinator vs. team leader roles

Integrity

To earn the team's trust, a good leader has to show integrity in all their dealings. They must also be honest at all times, even when they fear that the rest of the team might be upset about what they have to say. This kind of transparency builds credibility between the team leader and the rest of the group.

Confidence

An effective leader has to appear like that they know what they are doing at all times. This can help them instil confidence in their team members. Also, being sure of the guidance they provide makes it easier for others to trust them to lead.Related: 9 Essential Team Leader Skills

What does a team leader do?

A team leader performs a range of tasks necessary to maintain organisation and progress in a group. Some of their frequent job duties include:

Arranging team meetings: Team leaders make sure that their team members attend all team meetings by sending emails to remind them of meetings and provide them with any relevant information they need.
Setting daily or weekly goals: They ensure a clear vision for the group by working with other members to identify new tasks and goals.
Delegating tasks: They assign other group members with work according to their individual abilities.
Resolving issues: When issues arise between other team members, a team leader is responsible for resolving them.
Communicating: Team leaders relay useful information to team members and update management on the group's progress.
Encouraging group members: When working towards a common goal, team leaders try to keep the rest of the group motivated until the end of the project through words of encouragement.
Organising: Team leaders ensure that all documents are well accounted for and organise schedules for team members as needed.
Forming strategies: Team leaders work with other group members to devise a plan for how to achieve their goals.
Managing time: They make sure that allocated tasks are completed at the right time by reminding group members of their due dates.