Effective team leadership: how to lead teams successfully

In today's dynamic business world, good team leadership is crucial to a company's success. In line with this topic, we are delighted to present our interview with Heather Elkington in this article. She is an educator in the field of leadership management while also the founder of Fresh Leadership World, a TEDx speaker, author, and coach. Prestigious publications such as GQ and the New York Times have also featured her.

Thanks to her experience, she has trained more than 5,000 managers and reached millions of people online. In this interview with us, she shares her knowledge on the factors of good team leadership. From building the right team to having difficult conversations, Heather offers practical advice to help leaders.

What is leadership anyway?

Leadership refers to the ability to lead, motivate, and inspire a group. The aim is to achieve common goals. It encompasses various aspects such as communication, decision-making, empathy, and the ability to build trust within the team. A good team leader creates a team environment in which all members always want to share ideas.

What makes an effective team?

Team leadership in companies is more crucial than ever. But how do you build an effective team? We asked Heather this question to discover what qualities are important for a good team.

“For me, a solid team is built on trust, open communication, and a shared sense of purpose. It’s about creating a space where my team feels safe to speak up, share ideas, and make mistakes. When everyone knows how they fit into the bigger picture, it’s easier to stay aligned and accountable.” - Heather

Heather makes it clear that a successful team is not just about skills and tasks. A successful team is also about a culture of trust and shared responsibility.

Building teams through regular dialogue

In addition to the important characteristics of a good team, it is important to pursue clear strategies. This is how a successful team can strengthen itself in the long term. We asked Heather what steps she recommends to successfully build a team.

“To build a high-performing team, all driving forward towards the business goals, you need to really know them as a leader.” - Heather

Heather uses a structured system of one-on-one meetings to better understand her team:

• Once a year: salary review (better every six months for fast-growing companies, as tasks change more frequently here)
• Every 90 days: A one-to-one meeting to focus on strengths and weaknesses
• Every two weeks: A 30-minute meeting in which there is room for successes or other concerns
• Daily: Provide immediate feedback and an opportunity to clarify issues. These should happen in the moment and not wait for the next meeting

"Each of these meetings creates opportunities for feedback to flow both ways, keeping everyone on the same page and driving growth.” - Heather

In this way, Heather not only creates regular exchange, but also lays the foundation for a culture of openness.

Core competencies for successful leadership

To lead the entire team, specific qualities and clear priorities are essential. Heather explains which responsibilities have the biggest impact on team success.

“Over the years, I've worked with some of the greatest leaders in the game and started to notice patterns in what they prioritize.” - Heather

• Setting a direction: According to Heather, it's crucial to define the what and why for the team, such as team goals. If all members know what they are working towards and why it is important, this promotes cohesion.
• Delegate correctly: Good leaders would motivate their team through recognition. By delegating responsibility, they can enable the team to develop their expertise and grow.
• Build trust: Trust is a prerequisite for successful teamwork, Heather highlights.
• Encourage accountability: Accountability goes beyond meeting deadlines. Clear KPIs and regular updates can help to raise awareness of one's own responsibility.
• Work on systems: According to Heather, managers should regularly detach themselves from everyday tasks to optimize internal processes.
• Further development: It is important to invest in professional development for both yourself and your team.

Overall, these principles demonstrate that successful leadership and effective team management rely on more than just strategies. Rather, it is about the ability to recognize and promote the potential of each individual team member.

What are qualities of a good team leader?

Heather asserts that the best leaders find a balance between support and challenge. They know exactly when to give instructions and when to take a step back.

“The best leaders strike a balance between being supportive and challenging, knowing when to guide and when to step back.” - Heather

A key point involves developing an atmosphere that guarantees psychological safety. Heather emphasizes that team members should feel comfortable sharing ideas, even if there is a risk of failure.

At the same time, good managers do not shy away from difficult conversations. They would see these as opportunities to build respect and clarity within the team.

A team leader must also communicate clear boundaries and expectations. Heather notes that this ensures that all team members are on the same page. Transparent communication promotes team collaboration.

“Great leaders communicate their boundaries and their expectations clearly, so everybody is on the same page. And lastly, they focus on creating a culture of accountability—not by micromanaging but by empowering their team to take ownership of their work and results. It’s this mix of empathy, directness, and vision that helps a leader build a team that’s engaged, resilient, and ready to take on challenges together.” - Heather

This shows that a mixture of empathy, clarity and vision enables a leader to build a strong team.

How to manage conflict in a team

Dealing with conflicts within a team is an important management task. Heather explains that regarding differences of opinion, she primarily focuses on gaining more insights. She indicates that while it is important to create space for emotions, they should not influence the outcome.

“When handling disagreements in a team, I focus on finding out the facts. Yes, it's important to make space for emotions, but I don’t allow those emotions to dictate the outcome, as emotions are illogical and rarely show the truth or the facts.” - Heather

Encouraging the team is important to avoid apportioning blame and to find solutions instead.

“I encourage the team to move from blame to solutions. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, we ask, 'What do we want to achieve, and how can we get there?' It’s a small shift, but it makes a big difference in turning disagreements into productive conversations. This approach helps turn conflict into a learning experience and creates a more collaborative environment.” - Heather

A constructive approach requires the team to focus on common goals and find an acceptable solution for everyone.

Through regular conversations and sharing experiences, team members can learn to appreciate different points of view.

Remote leadership and strong team cultures

Managing a remote team brings with it a number of challenges. Heather underlines that one of the biggest hurdles is maintaining a sense of connection.

“I make an effort to keep communication flowing—like regular video chats, quick updates, and, of course, regular 1-on-1s.” - Heather

In addition, creating a space for conversation, such as a virtual coffee party, can help to strengthen relationships.

Another important aspect is setting clear working hours for remote work. Heather explains that this is crucial to avoid burnout:

“Setting clear boundaries around work hours is also important to avoid burnout—it's not as easy to disconnect when you work and live in the same place.” - Heather

Good team leaders encourage a respectful approach to working hours. In this way, they help their employees to find time to relax outside work.

Female leadership and the power of empathy

In the discussion about female leadership, Heather emphasizes the unique strengths that women bring to leadership.

One of the greatest strengths of women is often empathy.

“It’s the ability to truly understand and connect with their team members on a deeper level, making others feel heard, valued, and included.” - Heather

Empathy helps leaders to have difficult conversations with a balance of compassion and honesty. It makes it possible to deal with conflicts openly and find solutions that take everyone's needs into account.

“This approach can lead to better, more sustainable outcomes, as people feel respected and invested in the process.” - Heather

How can companies promote female leadership even more?

To better support female leaders, organizations should recognize the value of their qualities. They should create environments that foster empathy. Mentorship programs could be helpful because they offer support from people who have overcome similar challenges.

“Creating a culture that encourages vulnerability and open communication helps ensure that women can lead in a way that feels authentic to them, without fitting into a predefined mold.” - Heather

In conclusion, promoting female leaders and women in leadership not only strengthens diversity. It creates a more effective working environment that values different perspectives and experiences.

Our conclusion

Our interview with Heather Elkington makes it clear that good and effective leadership goes far beyond simply managing tasks. Effective leaders and leadership are about creating a culture of trust, communication, and shared responsibility.

Empowering women in leadership positions in particular brings valuable perspectives to leadership skills, which ultimately leads to better results.

By supporting the particular strengths of female leaders, companies are investing in the future and securing a competitive advantage.

About Heather Elkington: She is a leadership educator and the founder of Fresh Leadership World, a platform dedicated to innovative approaches in leadership development. Known for her dynamic methods in coaching and leadership training, Heather focuses on empowering individuals and organizations to foster growth, resilience, and effective communication. Through Fresh Leadership World, she offers resources and guidance to help leaders cultivate fresh perspectives and drive positive change in their teams and industries.