5 important responsibility areas for team leaders and managers

Team leaders and managers face various responsibilities for not only managing the team but also achieving laid down goals in constrained resources. Crucial areas of responsibilities for team leader or managers includes

1. Staff

You must take charge of their health and safety at work. This means ensuring that team members know and follow safety procedures and if required, participate in health surveillance. You should also consult the occupational health and personnel departments on issues concerning the welfare of your team.

2. You’re also responsible for morale and development among your team.

This means

Treating them fairly- and equally- at all times
Involving team members in decision making. Problem solving and taking on new responsibilities.

It’s your responsibility to help develop the careers of team members. Too your reward for doing so is the satisfaction of seeing them develop professionally and personally under your guidance.

3. You’re responsible for performance

Your organization probably has quantity and quality goals and standards. If so, it’s up to you to ensure that your team succeeds in achieving them. This may involve.

Providing information, instruction, training and supervision so team members can meet goals and standards
Assigning work and checking team members’ progress
Ensuring that team members follow established policies and procedures
Checking quality, to ensure that work meets or exceeds standards, and taking action if it doesn’t
Setting deadlines, quotas or priorities for work assignments
“trouble-shooting”

4. You must help control costs

Waste, re-work, lost time, etc., all contribute to the cost of the work your team produces. Your job includes monitoring established procedures, as well as individual practices and performances, to help minimize the cost of your team’s work. You can benefit your organization further by

Recognizing where improvements are needed
Making or suggesting changes to improve the efficiency and quality of the team’s work whenever possible and practical
Listening to and considering suggestions form your team.

5. You’re in charge of equipment and the workplace

As team leader, you must see that your team uses and maintains these as required. For example, this may mean taking steps to ensure that