Successful team leaders draw out the best — physically, mentally, and emotionally — from their colleagues. Seven-time NFL Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and Harvard Business School professor and former dean Nitin Nohria sorted through Brady’s 20-plus-year career and identified the leadership principles he used to maximize teammates’ performance. Here are a few anyone can put into practice.
Always put the team first.
Even when you don’t receive the recognition or opportunities you desire, never blame your team. Instead, be a motivating force by doing what you can to support those who are succeeding.
Show appreciation for the ones who don’t get attention
Team members whose primary responsibilities are vital but not visible won’t always receive the credit they deserve. Even a few simple words of appreciation can make a less-visible teammate feel valued.
Set the standard.
If you’re committing 100%, you’ll inspire your team to do the same. Sometimes pace-setting isn’t about working harder, it’s about communicating expectations more candidly. If your team members respect you, they’ll know any criticism is coming from a place of honesty and wanting them to be the best they can be.
