Successful Team Leadership: Business Memo

Team Leadership Strategy

In light of the expected departmental changes that are part of the company's strategic plan to enter a particular market segment, it is imperative for team leaders to select a team that will efficiently accomplish all goals that have been set. Thus, I present the leadership strategy that I will use for my five-member team, which is made up of hardworking, dynamic, and goal oriented individuals.

Team personality assessment: Adeniyi (2007) explains that the foundation for success is character and personality. Therefore, personality assessments were first conducted before to ensure team members possessed the right mix of character traits that will guarantee good team performance. The team members should be hardworking, disciplined, cooperative and patient. Self-efficacy and integrity are also vital as they will ensure continuity of operations even when I am absent. Both introverts and extroverts are an important part of the team because the introverts, being the best listeners and observers, will bring unorthodox perspectives; while the extroverts, who are more aggressive and outspoken, will ensure that the entire team is performing at its best throughout. Moreover, the team accommodates members from different cultures to promote diversity and to encourage creativity. As a leader, I believe that passion, good communication skills, and respect are essential for good performance. Thus, I am certain that my team and I possess the right traits to achieve the department's goals.

The situation: The department starts operations in one month. The team, therefore, needs to learn the necessary skills that will help them accept the change and transition into their new roles. I will first train each member on better communication and writing skills to ensure they communicate effectively. Furthermore, since the department will use more technologically advanced machines and gadgets, the team will be trained how they are operated. The entire team will also have to learn how to appreciate members from different cultures and how to accommodate their diverse opinions and ideas when solving problems and making decisions.

Leadership approach for each team member: According to Adams (2007), the effective leader chooses a leadership approach based on the situation, character traits, and the relationship they have with the group. Thus, my leadership strategy matches each member's personality traits with the leadership approach that will ensure they perform both efficiently and effectively.

Team member 1: Team member 1 is extroverted, highly opinionated and outspoken. However, although he is hardworking and ambitious, he tends to rebel against instructions and authority. It will, therefore, be more effective to use a collaborative approach that will enable him to view me as a team member instead of authoritative figure. This approach is based on the followership theory of leadership, which assumes that the effectiveness of a leader is indicated by the quality of the followers (Adeniyi, 2007). It will create an environment that will allow team member 1 to voice his opinion, give suggestions and ask for clarifications when necessary.

Team member 2: Team member 2 is introverted and shy. She is also observant, patient and good at following instructions. However, she performs best under constant monitoring. The best approach to use on team member 2 is an authoritative approach such as the directive control approach. Adeniyi (2007) explains that this approach is based on the trait theory that suggests that leaders possess certain traits that distinguish them from others. As a leader, therefore, I will lead her to success as she is not able to do so herself. Using this approach, I will direct her on what she should do and specify timelines, deadlines, and instructions. This will leave little room for error, and ensure that she receives the guidance she may require.

Team member 3: Team member three is young, energetic, and she is always pessimistic. She is highly industrious, social and tech savvy, and always brings in new and creative ideas to the team. This is particularly helpful to the situation because it requires a constant flow of new ideas and proper use of technology. Thus, a collaborative approach will be the best for team member three. A collaborative approach will allow me as a leader to understand team member 3's viewpoints and to come up with suitable solutions and ideas together. It is based on the eclectic theory that suggests that leadership should change with the times to meet with the demand for time and place, including accommodating new ideas, younger generations or technological advancements.

Team member 4: Team member four is aggressive and likes to cooperate with team members. She is able to make efficient and objective decisions, and her beliefs are deeply rooted in her culture, making her disciplined and honest. However, she sometimes struggles to keep up with some deadlines on some days of the week due to cultural practices, and she fails to keep up with western ideologies. The best leadership approach for team member 4 is the directional informative approach that will direct, and at the same time give her alternatives to choose from. It is also based on the trait theory that depends on the leaders' ability to guide the team members.