Being a leader is often associated with being the boss of a group. While this is widely believed by many, the role of a leader is far from this perception. A leader does not only give tasks to people and watch them do their job. A leader guides the people and shares the work to do equally and accordingly. This is why leaders are important in different aspects and contexts. From school to work setting, they all carry a significant role.
Experts including motivational speakers emphasize the need for leaders to have skills that will be helpful to work. To be able to lead people, you have to possess certain social skills so that you can prompt harmony and unity within your group. At the same time, to be a leader is to be responsible for how work is accomplished efficiently for a group.
Task management is an important skill you should be able to do well as a leader. This does not only mean knowing what to do and doing them on your own. Task management entails a lot more things that bring out the value of teamwork in any setting. At the end of the day, your success in being a leader is not measured by your performance alone. A good leader is able to bring out the best of everyone in a group to work towards a goal.
So, how do you make task management happen as a leader? Here are some task management tips to follow:
Plot Time Wisely
When it comes to work, deadlines are always present. Some projects can be worked on long-term yet some only have a limited amount of time to finish. In any type of work, time is important to take note of. When you are leading a group, plotting a timetable that will allow everyone to work equally and effectively is important. For example, if you plot a schedule for one member, it should be fair that everyone is working for the same amount of time given that the nature of work is the same.
An effective strategy to try when it comes to planning through time is setting deadlines earlier than what is given. If you have to finish a project at a specified time, set the deadline for your group a few days ahead. Regardless of how early it is, stick and be strict with this deadline. This will guarantee that your work is timely. On top of that, you will have amp time to edit and revise if needed.
Only Plan Things You Can Accomplish
One of the most common issues for people when it comes to working is overpromising. Overpromising is not necessarily about you wanting to show off your skills or competencies. Sometimes, overpromising happens when you get a little too excited or passionate about work. When faced with a project that you are interested in or aware of, you can end up planning on doing more things than what you can accomplish. Avoid this at all costs.
Planning unnecessary or excessive work will only make you and your team suffer. Remember that you are working with people, not machines. Everyone’s capacity is different when it comes to productivity. And so, taking your members into consideration should be something to prioritize as a leader. After all, overpromising can result in underperforming. You do not want to set expectations you can meet.
Delegate Tasks Strategically
A common issue for leaders is that some think that they have the responsibility to carry the burden for the group. Whatever the case maybe be, teamwork is all about collectively. Collaborating with your members is a good way to work with them better. Collaboration is a key to solid teamwork and when your team feels that you trust them, they will trust you more in return.
Ultimately, delegating tasks is important to make the most of your team. As a leader, you have to be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each member. When you know what each member has to offer, you can assign tasks that are compatible with everyone. This will lead to quality work that highlights the skills of each member. That’s an important way people can grow from leadership.
Do Not Multi-Task
Multi-tasking is often treated as a skill that helps accomplish more work. This is not always true. Multi-tasking does not necessarily mean getting work done. This is because as you work on different things at once, you will focus on others as you work on. Simultaneously working on all of them will only cause your brain to struggle because of the pressure and stress it may be exposed to. When you are not in your best state mentally, you will not be able to produce results of quality.
Instead of multi-tasking, do one thing at once and do it as fast as you can. This way, you still get to do work without being mentally absent from the other things you are working on. As much as multi-tasking can be helpful at times, it is not an ideal way to efficiently and effectively accomplish results.
Check-In With Members Regularly
As a leader, an important of your job is to keep the group intact. By this, it only means that regardless of the delegation, everyone should be aware of what they are doing and what the others are doing. This will further improve teamwork in your group. Additionally, it will help everyone make each other accountable for their role in the group.
Another thing to consider is that not everyone in the group will be confident and comfortable. Some people who might be struggling will not tell you about it unless you ask. Assisting your team in areas they need help is a great way to do your role purposefully. This will also ensure that everyone is working as assigned and that deadlines and guidelines are being met.
Key Takeaway
Leadership is not easy, especially when it involves different tasks and projects to be accomplished. Being with people while you work on the same targets and goals can be difficult if everyone has something different to offer to the table. You have to find a way to be able to make everything work, from unifying different members to meeting the deadlines.
Plotting time wisely, planning things you can accomplish, delegating tasks, avoiding multi-tasking, and checking in with members regularly are all notable ways to practice leadership at work. These things might seem simple at first glance but requires a strong sense of responsibility to pull off. Among many other things, these are some of the best practices in able to make each work effective for everyone.
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