Team leader: what is a team leader and what are his or her functions?

One of the key elements in moving a project forward efficiently is to have a team leader who has the ability to the necessary training and qualifications for this purpose. The team leader is the person who is in charge of coordinating all the human resources involved in a project and, consequently, is the person of reference in the execution of each of its parts. In fact, the success or failure of the project will depend on the good or bad practice of his or her function.

What is a team leader

A team leader is the person who is in charge within a working team. Therefore, it constitutes the authority within the group, but this authority must be practised by means of the leadership, The objective of his role is to coordinate all members of the team so that they perform their duties as efficiently as possible. 

What is the role of a team leader?

When describing the functions of a team leader, it is important to be clear that his or her main function is to coordinate the team. However, beyond generic co-ordination, it is equally important to specify certain attitudes and skills that a team leader must have if the project is to develop as desired. It should also be borne in mind that, according to the sector and the project in particular, The functions of a team leader will not be the same in all cases, but there will be slight variations according to the specific needs of each particular project and team. 

Some of the most important functions of a team leader are the following:

• Coordinate the work teamAs mentioned, the main function of any work manager is to coordinate the team under his or her command. Coordinating a team is a very broad function, which includes elements of planning, resource management and deadlines, logistical elements and managing setbacks. Ultimately, the team coordination function is responsible for keeping the team together and making the project work at all times. 
• Definition of objectivesWithin the coordination of the team, it is worth mentioning an element with its own character, which is the definition of objectives. It is the role of the team leader to define the goals to which the team aspires, as these will determine the direction to be taken through the set of elements and decisions derived from its general coordination. 
• Exercising leadership within the groupAnother of the team leader's functions within the group is to exercise leadership within the group, which is necessary for all team members to work towards a common goal and in the same direction.
• Encourage communication within the teamAnother function of the team leader is to foster communication, both among the lower-ranking team members and among those of different ranks within the team, e.g. between the lower-ranking team members and the team leader himself/herself. Communication is a fundamental element for any group action to work efficiently, so it is the role of the team leader, as a leader, to ensure that there is two-way communication within his or her own team. 
• Decision-makingIn a generic sense, especially in the face of unforeseen events or setbacks, it is the team leader's role to carry out decision-making when there is doubt as to which option is the right one. This role is reinforced by their leadership and their ability to coordinate the team. 

Why it is important to have a team leader

As we have seen, some of the functions attributed to a team leader are those that will allow the work to be carried out more efficiently in all senses of the word. Because of this, although it is not compulsory to have a team leader, it is highly recommendable, given that the results are better when this figure is available within the working group.. Naturally, this also implies that a team leader must be in place who has the necessary training and qualities to to carry out this work responsibly and effectively, Therefore, not just anyone is qualified to exercise this role. 

Positive qualities in a team leader

Although there are many positive qualities attributed to good team leaders, there are some qualities that are common to most manuals and authors, which can be a good starting point for understanding what it takes to be a good team leader. 

These include the following: 

• Balance between authoritarianism and democracyThis is one of the most difficult qualities to foster in a team leader. The problem arises from the need for the team leader to exercise leadership, which implies having authority within the team itself. However, it is also necessary to be able to understand that the relationship with subordinates must be cooperative. Therefore, a person who is able to listen to the proposals of others and at the same time establish his/her own lines of work without questioning his/her leadership will be a good candidate for this type of position.
• EmpathyEmpathy is one of the defining characteristics of a good team leader. Empathy is the ability to put oneself in the other person's shoes. This allows one to understand other points of view even when they are opposed to one's own. Empathic ability allows human relationships to flow much more efficiently and profitably, which also applies to work groups with team leaders. 
• Order and management skillsFinally, another of the positive qualities of a team leader is the ability to order and manage in every sense. This refers to the ability of some people to break down problems or issues into smaller elements and manage them individually in each case. This allows for quick and effective decision making, which at the same time allows the work process to be clean and smooth.