18 Sutras by SATYA about 'How to become a good TL'

Leadership is an art. but not at the cost others cant learn it. Its not rocket science not its a lesson.
One can be excellent leader by practicing genuinely.

I have formulated 18 Sutras that can make you The Best among your peers, the Best for your sub-ordinates and The most prospective Manager !

1.       Accountability is needed. Here we are not simply quoting a management jargon. Understand it how it matters to the entire team/project and then the employer and client.

2.       A TL has to make note of every 1 of his/her TM (team member). Address by name and let them feel ‘Yes, my TL knows me’.

3.       Feel ready and free to give an appreciation even it’s a small one. Let the higher officials like Manager and Project lead know these appreciations, keeping them in CC when you email.

4.       Don’t blame in written manner or in public. Make a habit of calling in a discussion room when you have many issues to be burst out.

5.    Don’t point out in public, it hurts one’s ego especially the beginners are so tender. Don’t pin point the TMs any time but speak gently.

6.       Enquire the casual health issues and advise the TM to go for an off if its severe. Let them feel my TL cares if we’re not healthy.(This improves productivity in Long run;))

7.       Don’t behave like a kanjoos(miser) when TM asks for leave but you come up with an idea of wise adjustment. A Win-Win situation.

8.       When the higher officials or clients blame your team, don’t add fuel to it. Defend your team but later you call your team in to discussion room and explain why it is so.

9.       Always ensure that your team knows what they are doing rather than being another machine.

10.   Spend some work time with every TM to know what is his/her daily activity is. Then the TM respects you more because they can communicate better henceforth.

11.   Encourage the TMs to put their ideas, and tell them ‘let’s see if possible to implement those’.

12.   Know the complete processes so that you won’t seem stupid to your sub ordinate.

13.   Don’t bring any unsatisfactory issues you have with PM/PL, infront of TMs; either group wise or individually.

14.   Let the team enjoy the freedom at the sametime obeying your words.

15.   Don’t micro manage the TMs unless they’re new to the task. It’s insulting them If you do so.

16.   And don’t advice the guy who has been doing the work since quite a long time. Remember… Never advice an expert

17.   Give the team a practical scenario of how his/her negligence of an issue might worth loss of business, be it to the client or the employer who pays you.

18.   Last but not the least, A TL job is much similar to mother. S(h)e need to manage children(TMs), Husband (PM), In-Laws (Client-who is hardly satisfied whatever you do). So handle every thing/one with patience and presence of mind. So keep yourself sound and fit.

Hope every reader gets the essence out of this. I have formulated these based on my experiences, my observations and from bad leaders (from whom I understood what they should not have done)!

PS: SUTRAS is a sanskrit word. In English you call it Principles

Always the same..

Satya Prakash.M