what is a team leader?

In an organisation, functions are divided into various departments, and the company hires leaders to supervise workers in each group. 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 the marketing strategy. 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, you need to build a relationship with your team members and understand their strengths and weaknesses. You should also know what inspires them and their interests when assigning tasks to achieve the best results. When allocating duties, you should consider the employee's passion and expertise to achieve the best results.

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

Would working as a team leader suit your leadership and interpersonal skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a team leader role.
 

team leader jobs
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average salary of a team leader

According to ONS, the average salary of a team leader in the UK is £26,000 per year. Team leaders earn as low as £21,155 annually at entry-level positions. As you increase your experience and improve your skills, your earnings increase up to £42,492 per year. Aside from the base salary, team leaders often earn bonuses and overtime pay for working extra hours or achieving targets. The allowances for team leaders often include medical insurance, transport allowance and contribution to a pension scheme. Most employers also offer non-monetary benefits like paid vacations and sick days.

what factors affect your salary as a team leader?

Salaries for team leaders vary based on skills, experience and performance. The employer evaluates your skills and experience level at entry-level and uses them to determine your pay structure. During your tenure, the company measures your performance based on expectations and the achievement of targets and goals. The appraisal forms the basis of salary increments and bonuses.

Your position in the company hierarchy also influences your pay. If you work alongside managers, you are likely to earn more due to the high expectations. Your roles can also impact your pay structure. For instance, team leaders who manage large teams have better compensation packages since they supervise, train and direct the teams.
 

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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types of team leader

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 the activities of your sales and marketing teams 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.
     
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working as a team leader

Curious about what a team leader does daily? Read on to find out the duties, responsibilities and work routine of team leaders.

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education and skills

While your skills and previous work experience in a leadership role are more important, educational qualifications are a bonus. At entry-level, you need qualifications in the industry sector you intend to work for if you want to build your expertise. For instance, if you work in a rehabilitation centre, a certificate or diploma in social work helps you conduct community programmes. If you work in retail, a background in sales or a Higher National Diploma in marketing improves your skills.

You can also prepare for the management role by taking a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in management or team leading. Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) also provides certifications in leadership roles.

skills and competencies

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

  • technical expertise: as a team leader, you need to be an expert in the field you work in 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, you have to build healthy working relationships to excel. You can manage your emotions and recognise or influence other people's emotions with emotional intelligence. 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 team member's performance and provides constructive feedback. Even when the feedback is negative, you need to give your opinion and recommend ways to improve performance.
  • communication skills: as a team leader, you are in constant communication with team members, the management and other stakeholders. Communication skills help you provide clear instructions to employees and communicate their grievances to the manager. Written communication skills are also important for conducting performance appraisals and writing reports.
  • decision-making skills: team leaders make decisions during the project execution phase to guide team members. That means you need access to relevant information on the project and decision-making skills to make the best choices for the project.
     
Two males and a female standing up while having a conversation
Two males and a female standing up while having a conversation
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FAQs

FAQs about working as a team leader

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