Detailing the Implications of a Team Leader Not Having Interpersonal Skills

Task 4

4b - Detailing the implications of a team leader not having interpersonal skills;

After successfully holding a training session for a small team of people on the merits of team working and interpersonal skills, I now have to identify the implications of a team leader not having the type of interpersonal skills that are needed to run an effective team.

Interpersonal Skills enable you to work with others harmoniously and efficiently within a team, working well with other involves understanding and appreciating individual differences. The following points are important interpersonal skills to have;

∙ accepting responsibilities

∙ resolving conflict

∙ communication skills

∙ being culturally aware

∙ bringing something to the team

Accepting Responsibilities within the team is an important interpersonal skill to have because it can help the team progress and help the individual advance. The responsibilities that members will face within the team are;

∙ responsibilities that come with the job

∙ responsibilities that you voluntarily assume

∙ responsibilities that arise from a situation

Additional responsibilities can be done voluntarily or involuntarily. In most teams you will be asked to do things that are not in your job description. Handling these requests in a positive manner will benefit the team because additional responsibilities can help;

∙ learn new skills

∙ make positive contribution to the team

∙ assist a co-worker

∙ help meet deadlines

Resolving Conflicts, many causes of conflict arise due to miscommunication; a break down in communication can be due to;

∙ cultural differences

∙ differences in opinions

∙ unclear roles or expectations

∙ unequal status

∙ misunderstanding of languages

With these problems causing conflict within the team it is important to make sure theses barriers are understood so the team can flow and work effectively and efficiently. There are five methods to handle conflict;

∙ running away

∙ being obliging to the other party

∙ defeating the other party

∙ winning a little / losing a little (give and take)

∙ co-operating

Resolving conflict is an art of communication as co-operation helps reduce anger, stress and frustration, allowing the team to function properly making them more productive.

Communication Skills are one of the most important interpersonal skills to have because if a team doesn't communicate it will not function properly because none of the members will know what their job roles are so won't be able to work effectively and as a co-ordinated unit. Communication allows a team to flow an express any problem or view any disagreements they have.

Being Culturally Aware is very important because being culturally ware is another aspect to successful team working. People need to be aware of different;

∙ lifestyles

∙ countries

∙ ethnicity

∙ religion

It is important for the team leader and team members to understand each of these points because they could offend or upset a fellow team member and this would disrupt the team's dynamics.

The final interpersonal skill is to make sure that you bring something to the team, this is important because every member need to bring something different to the team. This will keep the team balanced as all the members of the team will be strong in a different area meaning they can complete any task asked of them. Having input in the team is important because the team must not carry members because that person will bring the whole team down.

After describing the interpersonal skills a team leader and its members must have I am going to detail the implications of a team leader that doesn't have any interpersonal skills.