CWTS Module 3: Effective Team Leadership

Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

• The role of a leader is to create followers who are also self-leaders
• The task of a leader is to bring about constructive and necessary change
• The responsibility of a leader is to bring about change
• The greatest source of power is trust

How to Be an Effective Leader

• Lead by example and practice what you preach
• Listen with understanding and be willing to discuss and solve problems
• Support and help your team, and be on their side
• Use a team approach to help the group reach better decisions
• Avoid close supervision and delegate authority to your team
• Trust your team's judgment and permit group decision-making

Major Causes of Failure in Leadership

• Inability to organize details
• Unwillingness to render humble service
• Expecting payment for what you know rather than what you do
• Fear of competition from followers
• Lack of imagination
• Selfishness
• Disloyalty
• Abuse of power
• Emphasis on title

Making Teams Effective

• Effective teams require effort from both the team leader and members
• Working in a team is a new experience for many students
• Remember that each team member has something valuable to contribute
• Know each other's strengths and weaknesses

Decision-Making

• Decision-making involves fact-finding, logical thinking, analytical ability, sensitivity to others, creativity, and assertiveness
• Types of decisions made based on the number of people involved:
  • The Plop: a quick decision made by one person
  • The One-Person Decision: a decision made by one person that may not have support from others
  • The Handclasp: a decision made by a small group without discussion
  • The Clique: a decision made by a small organized group that may dominate the rest
  • The Minority: a decision made by a few powerful personalities
  • The Majority Vote: a decision made by a majority of the group
  • The Silent Consensus: an assumed unanimous decision where some members may not feel free to disagree
  • The Consensus: an agreement involving compromise and discussion of all opinions

Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

• A leader's role is to be a self-leader.
• A leader's task is to bring about constructive and necessary change.
• A leader's responsibility is to effect change.
• Trust is the greatest source of power.

Decision-Making

• Decision-making is a complex process that involves various personal and interpersonal skills, including fact-finding, logical thinking, analytical ability, sensitivity to others, creativity, and assertiveness.

Types of Decisions Based on Involvement

• The Plop: a decision made quickly, but may lack support from others during implementation.
• The One-Person Decision: a decision made by one person, but may require voluntary support from others to implement.
• The Handclasp: a decision made by one person, agreed upon by another without further discussion.
• The Clique: a decision made by a small, organized group that may create rivalry within the team.
• The Minority: a decision dominated by a few powerful personalities, often unconsciously.
• The Majority Vote: a decision made through a majority vote, where not everyone may agree.
• The Silent Consensus: an assumed unanimous decision, where some members may have not felt free to disagree and have kept silent.
• The Consensus: an agreement reached through compromise and open discussion, building unity, cooperation, and commitment.

This module discusses the role, tasks, and responsibilities of a leader in making teams effective. It focuses on enhancing leadership skills and understanding the importance of a leader in an organization.