The workplace is a lot like a locker room or club house; it isn’t just about standing out for your personal achievements, it’s about helping and motivating the other members of your team so you all put the very best possible product out on the field. And if you want to be the team captain or just in the starting line up I strongly urge you to read on. In the work place, showing that you can be an effective team leader is one of the fastest tracks you can possibly put yourself on to a corner office.

It’s not easy being a leader. In fact, low level managerial positions are most frequently where the highest level of professional incompetence is. Why? Simply because it is a fairly easy position to get to in a company by just being there a while. As long as you don’t do anything to get yourself fired or seriously reprimanded in your first few years of your new job, you will most likely find yourself in one of these positions, whether or not you are qualified or have even demonstrated that you are best cut out for that type of work. To be fair, it isn’t entirely the manager’s fault. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the majority of the blame falls squarely on the shoulders of the people who put them there. If you hire a dog to make you a pastrami on rye and all you get in return is a turd sandwich whose fault is it?

But the point of this article is not to talk about the lack of competence in the work place it is to prepare you so you can turn that incompetence into success and avoid making or eating any turd sandwiches of your own.

Empathy

When building the 1980 “miracle” USA Olympic hockey team, coach Herb Brooks told critics that he wasn’t looking for the best players, he was looking for the right players. Chemistry is essential to any team and it is up to a strong team leader to set a precedent and put the right group of people together. This doesn’t mean putting the same type of people together or treating everyone in your group the same way mind you. Mental diversity is another important piece of a strong group system, if you over look it you may also over look the most effective answer to some problems you encounter. Answers that may have been obvious to someone who doesn’t think quite the same way you do.

It’s also important, very important, to understand what motivates your coworkers and how they work under stress. Be aware that not everyone responds to criticism the same way as others. Motivation is a tricky thing. You need to be able to tell which people respond best to a kick in the pants and which might be better suited to receive positive reinforcement when they fall short.

Charisma

Patton once said of his troops “I don’t want them to like me, I want them to fight for me.” This strategy might work in war but it is rather risky business in the office. People enjoy working for bosses they like, and they will work harder for you if they have the added personal goal of not wanting to let you down. Be supportive and de...

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