However, the secret is that none of these qualities are beyond your reach. It is never too late
to change towards a proactive stance that will propel you into the echelons of team leadership.
Take this opportunity to learn about what sets a good team leader apart and start acting like
one today!; you will soon find that you have become a leader without even realising it!
Jack Welch is widely regarded as the greatest leader in the history of the corporate world by
many individuals. He played a central role in GE’s meteoric rise in all aspects of their business.
What sets men like Jack Welch apart from others? What special quality can we point to and
identify as the special characteristic that enabled him to be such a great leader?
Great leaders are present everywhere. However, team leadership is where the seed of great
leadership is born. So what makes a great team leader?
A team leader has to be able to see their entire unit as a cohesive whole. This means that they
must identify each team member’s weaknesses and strengths while assessing the task at hand.
It is a given that different levels of output and efficiency are to be expected from each unique
team member. The sooner the team leader accepts this, the faster they will be able to design a comprehensive strategy that will ensure the successful completion of the allocated task.
Team leaders must always lead by example. This means that they must never exhibit qualities
that they do not wish to see in their team members. This is a very important rule as it sets the
tone for what standards the team views as acceptable conduct and behaviours. A good team
leader is never tardy or late for anything, always exhibits a calm demeanour, always acts
responsibly and knowledgably, upholds the highest ethical standards, and is fair and equal in
their treatment of all team members.
Finally, a great team leader understands the inner workings of the tasks and assignments
performed by their team. Leaders have a tendency to become management process oriented
and lost sight of the day-to-day functioning and requirements of their team. A good team
leader must be knowledgeable in the nitty-gritty of the work performed by their team
members, as this will enable them to best understand the needs of their team.
