Question

Effective team functioning is critical in ensuring the best performance. Which of these characteristics is critical in team leaders?

Answer 1

Effective team functioning requires leaders to establish a well-structured environment and adapt their leadership style to the team's needs. Leaders must balance structure and autonomy to accommodate various employee preferences and ensure team success.

Step-by-step explanation:

To ensure effective team functioning, it is critical for team leaders to embody certain characteristics that align with the needs of their team members. Leaders must provide a balance of structure and autonomy to cater to the diverse needs of their employees. As highlighted by research from Felfe & Schyns (2006), employees with a high need for leadership flourish in environments that offer clear responsibilities and minimal ambiguity. Therefore, a critical characteristic in team leaders is the ability to establish a well-structured environment for those who require it, while simultaneously supporting autonomy for more independent team members.

Understanding these dynamics can assist leaders in adopting the most suitable leadership style for their team. For instance, democratic leaders foster group participation and consensus, which is vital in some situations. Conversely, in scenarios where swift decision-making is essential, an authoritarian style may be more suitable. Team leaders must be adept at identifying the needs of their team and adjusting their management style accordingly to propel team success and employee satisfaction.

Answer 2

The characteristic which is critical in team leaders is that they should be able to maintain situational awareness.
If they can observe the situation calmly, even though the problem is critical, it means that the leader is a good one. He or she needs to assess the problem and think of a solution which will benefit the team most, without many consequences.