Leaders need facilitation skills to guide teams toward a shared goal. These abilities enhance their effectiveness in group settings, enabling leaders to help teams find solutions without directly participating in discussions. This blog outlines the key facilitation skills necessary for building high-performing teams.
Active listener
The leader can be a successful facilitator in the team when they are active listeners. They should understand the underlying concerns of the speaker to have a better problem-solving approach. They should be able to summarise the idea of communication clearly and address the root cause of the problem.
Active listening skills of the leader build a sense of trust among the team and encourage open communication. The leaders can show empathy in the conversation through body language and appropriate follow-ups.
Communicating clearly
Communication is, in fact, the backbone of successful project management. As highlighted in any detailed project management guide, leaders should communicate with their teams in simple, clear language so that everyone understands and participates fully in achieving shared goals.
The communication should be well structured so that the team can retain important discussions. The leaders should facilitate communication, adjusting the language as per the type of audience they are communicating with to ensure the team understands and incorporates the task effectively.
Time management
Time management is another facilitation skill that leaders should embrace to build a high-performing team. The leaders should be disciplined in allocating time for each activity in project management. Effective time management requires leaders to have a good understanding of the task and allocate buffer time for unexpected delays in project management.
Conflict resolution
The facilitator should be able to identify the source of the conflict and create a safe space for the team to express their concerns without the fear of being judgemental. The leaders should establish ground for respectful communication between the teams and ensure all voices are heard during the discussion. The leaders should help the teams to find common solutions by reframing the issue and brainstorming different solutions.
Flexibility and adaptability
Agility in project management calls for flexibility and adaptability. The facilitator should be able to understand the mood and energy of the team and change the activities as needed.
The leader could engage in small group discussions over larger ones to comfort the team or even change the topic if the current one does not satisfy the group’s needs. The facilitator should be ready to understand technical issues and be able to manage unexpected resistance.
The leaders can enhance skills with SAFe Scrum Master certification training and enforce flexibility and adoption in the team after understanding their needs in the best possible way.
Transparency fosters team loyalty
The leader should be transparent and honest while sharing the goals, even when the communication is uncomfortable. They should share the reasons behind the complex decisions so that the team can work towards the goals with high motivation and energy.
The leader should also be honest in admitting errors to build credibility among the team. Keeping the team updated about the progress of the projects, be it is success or delays, develops a sense of inclusion among them.
Building a sense of resilience
Handling teams in project management is a marathon. It is important for both teams and leaders to build a sense of reliance by normalising setbacks. The leader should motivate the team to learn from the mistakes by framing them as learning opportunities rather than dead ends. One can build high-performing teams in the organisation by supporting a culture of knowledge sharing and celebrating the achievements of the teams.
Emotional intelligence
Empathy is a strategic skill of leaders, as it enables them to understand the feelings of the team. It builds a sense of loyalty and connects the team with the leaders, and encourages them to bring their genuine efforts to the work.
A good leader should always ask thoughtful questions and show empathy towards the team’s concerns. Embracing active listening towards concerns will help the leader to be proactive in anticipating issues and make better decisions. It makes the team feel valued.
Leverage feedback to drive continuous improvement
Leaders should create a feedback culture to show the team that they value their concerns even during uncertain and tough times. The leader should encourage a habit of regular feedback from the teams, either through team meetings or one-to-one meetings, and normalise feedback as part of the workflow using tools and platforms.
One should take visible actions to gain the trust of the employees. A consistent feedback culture creates a safe space for the teams to voice their opinions.
Conclusion
Facilitation encourages the adoption and inclusion of the team in project management. It helps the leaders change their approach based on the team’s requirements and dynamics.
Facilitating open communication establishes transparency and builds trust among the team. A culture of regular feedback adopted by the leaders helps the teams review their processes and improve continuously.
