what is a team leader?

A team leader directs a group of people to achieve a particular goal. For instance, marketing executives can have a team leader who ensures the execution of their marketing strategies. However, unlike a manager who directs and enforces organisational plans, a team leader takes a motivational role and builds relationships with employees.

what does a team leader do?

As a team leader, building a relationship with your team members and understanding their strengths and weaknesses is crucial. You should also know their expertise, interests and what inspires them to achieve the best results when assigning tasks. 

Job opportunities for team leaders are available in all industries that require employees to work in groups to complete projects. For instance, the manufacturing industry requires team leaders to control quality while assembling or packaging products.Healthcare institutions also need team leaders to manage community programmes and oversee medical personnel.

team leader jobs
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average team leader salary

The salary of a team leader varies from $62,000 to $80,000 per year. The salary scale fluctuates based on the qualifications and experience levels. Some employers also pay overtime salaries and bonuses for working additional hours or achieving targets. Other companies have allowances as part of the remuneration package. Some typical allowances attached to employment contracts include car and house allowances.

factors that affect the salary of a team leader

The salaries of team leaders depend on their performance, experience level and skills. Most companies evaluate the experience and skills of entry-level team leaders to determine their remuneration package. During your tenure, your employer also measures your performance and increases your salary based on appraisals. Specialised qualifications in specific areas can also boost your salary.

As a team leader, your position in the company structure can dictate your earnings. For instance, some team leaders work alongside managers overseeing entire departments. Hence, the remuneration package reflects the complexity of the role. Team leaders managing smaller teams are likely to earn less since their roles are not as extensive.

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types of team leaders

Types of team leaders depend on the industry and roles in a company. Some include:

  • marketing team leaders: as a marketing team leader, you coordinate activities of your sales and marketing team to achieve targets. That means you develop a marketing strategy for your team and coach them on the best marketing practices.
  • manufacturing team leaders: assembling parts of a product or packaging them after production requires a group of workers. As a team leader, you monitor the work progress to ensure quality standards are adhered to and employees finish the work on time. You also train employees on pre-delivery inspections.
  • community team leaders: rehabilitation facilities and hospitals host community programmes to provide various services. A team leader oversees the programmes by managing the staff and liaising with the public.
Group of people having a meeting, in a room with glass windows
Group of people having a meeting, in a room with glass windows
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working as a team leader

As a team leader, you require exceptional management skills to excel in the role. You also motivate and inspire team members to achieve the desired goals. Here are the specific tasks and duties of team leaders:

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education and skills

Educational qualifications are not compulsory to become a team leader. However, pursuing the following qualifications improves your competitiveness for the role:

  • bachelor's degree: complete a bachelor's degree in human resources or business management. The degree takes three years, and you can join after completing Year 12. Alternatively, consider completing a diploma course in human resource management or a Certificate in human resources or leadership and management with a registered training organisation.
  • work experience: team leaders start their career in junior-level positions as part of a team before applying for supervisory roles. You can also get experience through internships and volunteer programmes.

team leader skills and competencies

Successful team leaders have great leadership skills but also need the following competencies:

  • technical expertise: as a team leader, you should be an expert in your field and have technical experience. Your ability to coach and supervise the performance of tasks relies on your experience and knowledge in relevant areas.
  • emotional intelligence: as a team leader, it is important to build healthy working relationships among employees to excel. You can manage your own emotions and recognise or influence other people's emotions. Emotional intelligence also boosts your social skills and helps you promote engagement and manage stress levels in your team.
  • ability to provide objective feedback: a team leader measures each member's performance and provides constructive feedback. Even when the feedback is negative, it is important to recommend ways to improve performance.
  • communication skills: as a team leader, you constantly communicate with team members, management and other stakeholders. Communication skills help you provide clear instructions to employees and communicate any grievances to managers. Written communication skills are also important for conducting performance appraisals and writing reports.
  • decision-making skills: team leaders make decisions during the project's execution phase to guide team members. You need access to relevant information and decision-making skills to make the best choices.
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FAQs about working as a team leader

Here are the most asked questions about working as a team leader:

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