what is a team leader?

In an organisation, functions are divided into various departments, and the company hires leaders to supervise workers in each group. A team leader directs a group of people to achieve a particular goal. For instance, marketing executives can have a team leader who ensures the execution of the marketing strategy. However, unlike a manager who directs organisational plans, a team leader takes a motivational role and builds relationships with employees.

what does a team leader do?

As a team leader, you build relationships with your team members and understand their strengths and weaknesses. You also know what inspires and interests them when assigning tasks to achieve the best results. 

Job opportunities for team leaders are available in various industries that require employees to work in groups to complete projects. For instance, the manufacturing industry needs team leaders to control quality during the assembly or packaging of products. Healthcare institutions use team leaders to manage community programmes and oversee medical personnel.

Would working as a team leader suit your leadership and interpersonal skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a team leader role.

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average salary of a team leader

According to Payscale, the average salary of a team leader in India is ₹786,754 per year. Team leaders earn around ₹500,000 annually in entry-level positions. As you increase your experience and improve your skills, your earnings can rise to ₹2,000,000 per year. Besides the base salary, team leaders often earn bonuses and overtime pay for working extra hours or achieving targets. The allowances for team leaders often include medical insurance, transport allowance and contributions to a pension scheme. Most employers also offer non-monetary benefits like paid vacations and sick days.

what factors affect your salary as a team leader?

Salaries for team leaders vary based on skills, experience and performance. Your employer evaluates your skills and experience level at entry level and uses them to determine your pay structure. During your tenure, the company measures your performance based on expectations and your achievement of targets and goals. This appraisal forms the basis of salary increments and bonuses.

Your position in the company hierarchy also influences your pay. If you work alongside managers, you are likely to earn more due to the higher expectations. Your specific role can also impact your pay structure. For instance, team leaders who manage large teams have better compensation packages since they supervise, train and direct the teams.

Two smiling women working together
Two smiling women working together
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types of team leader

Types of team leaders depend on the industry and roles in a company. Some include:

  • marketing team leaders: as a marketing team leader, you coordinate the activities of your sales and marketing teams to achieve targets. That means you develop a marketing strategy for your team and coach them on the best marketing practices.
  • manufacturing team leaders: assembling parts of a product or packaging them after production requires a group of workers. As a team leader, you monitor the work progress to ensure quality standards are adhered to and employees finish the work on time. You also train employees on pre-delivery inspections.
  • community team leaders: rehabilitation facilities and hospitals host community programmes to provide various services. A team leader oversees the programmes by managing the staff and liaising with the public.
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working as a team leader

Curious about what a team leader does daily? Read on to find out team leaders' duties, responsibilities and work routines.

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education and skills

While your skills and previous work experience in a leadership role are more important, educational qualifications are a bonus. At entry level, you need qualifications in the industry sector you intend to work for if you want to build your expertise. For instance, if you work in a rehabilitation centre, a certificate or diploma in social work or healthcare helps you conduct community programmes. If you work in retail, a background in sales or a bachelor's degree in marketing improves your skills.

You can also prepare for the management role by gaining a government-approved certificate in team management or management skills. Internships can offer an excellent opportunity to start your career.

skills and competencies

Successful team leaders have great leadership skills but also benefit from the following skills and competencies:

  • technical expertise: as a team leader, you are an expert in your field and have good technical experience. Your ability to coach and supervise the performance of tasks relies on your experience and knowledge in relevant areas.
  • emotional intelligence: to excel as a team leader, building healthy working relationships is crucial. You can manage your emotions and recognise or influence other people's emotions with emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence also boosts your social skills and helps you promote engagement and manage stress levels in your team.
  • ability to provide objective feedback: a team leader measures each team member's performance and provides constructive feedback. Even when the feedback is negative, you find the right way to convey this and recommend means to improve performance.
  • communication skills: as a team leader, you are in constant communication with team members, management and other stakeholders. Communication skills help you provide clear instructions to employees and share any grievances with managers. Written communication skills are also important for conducting performance appraisals and writing reports.
  • decision-making skills: team leaders make decisions during the project execution phase to guide team members. That means you have access to relevant information, and your decision-making skills enable you to make the best choices for the project.
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FAQs about working as a team leader

FAQs about working as a team leader:

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