As more teams begin to work remotely and a hybrid model of in-office and at-home working becomes the norm, it can be challenging for new team leaders to figure out how to successfully lead their people. Whether you’re leading an existing team or managing a brand-new one, it’s essential to build trust from the beginning and be transparent about what your expectations are.

Establishing your leadership Richard W Warke style is also key to building trust. It’s important to strike a balance between zooming in on day-to-day details and zooming out to see the big picture. If you spend too much time focused on the minutiae, you risk losing sight of how your team’s efforts contribute to overall company goals.

It’s also essential to provide feedback and coaching on a regular basis. This allows you to help your team members discover practical and actionable steps that can improve their performance. However, it’s important to only offer constructive criticism on those aspects of their job performance that are within their control. Offering feedback on external factors that they can’t change can leave them feeling deflated, discouraged, or helpless.

Finally, it’s important to be a good role model and show your team what it means to work hard and have fun. This will help your team develop the same behaviors that are valued in your workplace culture. You can also help to set the tone for a positive team environment by celebrating success, cheering your team members on, and being an active participant in projects.

In addition to providing feedback, encouragement, and motivation, effective team leaders must also be accountable for assessing the team’s progress and identifying any risks or issues. This is where communication comes in, and many new team leaders find it helpful to schedule regular check-in conversations with their team. You can schedule 1:1 meetings, weekly or daily check-in calls, or create calendar openings for “office hours” so that team members can drop in whenever they need to. Additionally, a project management tool like Homebase can be a valuable resource for tracking individual workloads and helping to ensure that everyone is on track to meet their goals. The more accountability you have for a healthy team, the more productive and engaged your team will be.