So here you are, trying to do your best at leading a group of colleagues to become the best team you can be. No matter what kind of setting it is, or what kind of project you’re trying to get done, you can bet that no two people on your team are exactly the same. Your team consists of a diverse, intricate group of people that not only work differently and bring several types of skills to the table, but also each take direction differently. So how do you manage being the best leader for a whole team when there is so much diversity? Breaking down what it means to be leader and how to address a group full of diverse individuals is not an easy task, but there are tips and tricks to get the most efficient work from your team no matter the circumstances. Learning to be the most efficient leader for all parts of your team is the first step in creating a thriving, efficient team that will be able to work together regardless of any other differences there are within the group.

One of the biggest things within leadership itself is transparency. Being able to be not just open-minded with ideas, but with situations that could come up with your individual team members. A leader needs to be able to not just be able to give out work and spew orders but also be able to tackle more sensitive topics and situations that can, and usually will, come up when working with diverse individuals. Being sensitive to the team environment while also making sure that each person feels safe and heard is something that comes with time. The team’s dynamic should be laid out from the beginning and that starts with the leader. As a leader, there should be a crystal clear view into what is expected, who plays which roles within the group, and how progress is measured and when it is expected. Being open and able to speak to your team on a more personal level can sometimes be an advantage. Make sure that boundaries and lines are drawn from the beginning and that everyone is heard when it comes to space and what is and will not be tolerated. Having the trust of your team will not only allow for a comfortable, safe place to work but also will bring the entire group together. Trust is given to be received and never expected. Being that transparent leader will show your team that there is nothing that will come between getting the job done and getting it done right.

Making sure that everything gets done in a timely manner is never an easy thing to follow up on. It may seem to some that you’re just harping on them to make them work faster, but there are things that are time sensitive at times. A good way to make sure that you’re not breathing down anyone’s throat while also creating a way to get thing done on time is to make sure you delegate equally within the team. Making sure that everyone is doing their part and giving assignments that are within certain people’s best skill sets will not only ensure that they get it done in the time period that you have given them but also that you have ensured that everyone on the team is putting their best foot forward in this project. Delegating on smaller assignments within a large project also allows for more to get done in a timely manner without a large, looming deadline for the project as a whole weighing down on everyone’s mind. While everyone works at different paces and at different skill levels, it is best to make sure that the entire team is reminded of their smaller deadlines and sometimes that might mean sending weekly reminders or coming up with a fun way to remind everyone when everything is due. Delegating doesn’t have to be placing people in specific categories for the entirety of the project, but rather a cycle of smaller deadlines to make sure everything is done and everyone is doing their part. As a leader it is best to show as an example and make sure that you too are abiding by the smaller deadlines, as well as making sure the bigger deadline isn’t forgotten either.

Creating a team that supports one another is something that is very important, especially when working with a diverse group. Sometimes new projects mean new teams of people that have never worked together before and that can cause a bit of tension and make the first couple meetings awkward. As a leader it is your job to create an environment that promotes individuality, trust, and hard work. Building morale within your team is like building a strong foundation for a house. Before anything else can be built, before any work can be done, there has to be a strong foundation to lay it all on. In order for your team to work together in the most efficient and timely manner possible, there has to first be a sense of team to begin with. Creating an atmosphere that allows everyone to feel heard and also feel supported. Whether that’s making sure everyone understand their role and getting to know everyone else’s as well or even just making sure everyone knows who each other is, it is up to you to create that atmosphere. Once your team feels like they can support each other and are supported in return, the foundation will be solid and the rest of the work can begin flawlessly.

No matter how big or small your team is, as their leader there is a lot of responsibility that not only is about the project itself, but about the people helping with it. There is nothing that makes work prosper more than a supported, safe environment to be in where your skills and ideas feel heard and accessible. Creating that space for your team will not only be good for them, but ultimately will show when the project in question is done impeccably.