The Importance of First Line Leadership in Organizational Functions
When you get a promotion to reach a higher position, someone needs to be equipped as a leader in a team. Of course it's not easy because this is your first time being a leader in a team.
To introduce and hone your skills as a first line leader, you need basic training. The following is an explanation of first line leadership that team leaders need to know.
Definition of First Line Leadership
First Line Leadership is the front line position of a company. The position of the first line leader can vary, ranging from department head, team leader, or project manager.
Ordinary people know the first line leader with the term supervisor, a position above the staff who leads a team. Of course it is not easy to be a leader. Moreover, the supervisor must be responsible for all work in the team.
When you are a staff, your focus is to complete the work that has been assigned by your boss. However, when you get a promotion and move up to a supervisory position, the burden grows.
Not only thinking about daily tasks, you also have to see and assess staff performance. When they need help, supervisors need to be there to provide input and guidance within the team.
A first line leader also needs to be sensitive to staff. This means that you need to see the full potential of the staff and think about how to develop it.
First line leaders also provide input or feedback on staff performance, such as strengths and weaknesses in completing work.
Generally, the supervisor is the person closest to the staff because they are directly related to the job. He will see how team members move, so he can distinguish attitudes when dealing with staff and manager levels.
Things to Pay Attention to in First Line Leadership
Being a leader is certainly not easy. Maybe you feel like a chameleon, need to be close to staff and superiors at the manager level to the head of the company. Launching from Harvard Business Publishing, the following are important things to support a career as a first line leader.
1. Double role
The purpose of the dual role is that the first line leader needs to complete his/her tasks, simultaneously as a problem solver for problems in the team.
Supervisors are also people that staff rely on when problems or obstacles occur at work. Here the role of the first line leader is to find a strategy to solve the problem.
In addition to the main job that relies on the ability as a staff, supervisors also need to have good managerial skills. This ability to strategize when dealing with staff and top level managers.
2. Learn to lead yourself
When you get a promotion and move up to a supervisory position, you have to start learning how to lead yourself. The reason is, managing a team is not easy, so you must have the capital as a leader for yourself.
In managing a team, you must learn to be a tough, agile, and adaptable leader.
The first line leader needs to be able to adapt, to be friends with the staff but still be a leader at the same time. You will also need to improve your social and emotional skills to get closer to the staff.
3. Division of work tasks
When you become a staff, you may find it difficult to carry out your daily work, but you can still do it well. This condition is a provision for you in giving work assignments to staff.
When you become a leader, you still need to have empathy for your staff. This can build emotional closeness with staff so they can be good co-workers.
When assigning assignments, instill that this is the trust you place in them to complete well.
Also convey that these tasks can be a provision to explore a higher career. If you don't believe in assigning tasks and jobs to staff, it means you can't be a full leader in the team.
4. Be a good friend and mentor
First line leaders are people who work directly with staff so they can understand the dynamics of their work. Your role as a supervisor is to help staff who are in trouble.
Even though you're a team leader, that doesn't mean you just want to get the job done. Therefore, you can be a good listener and mentor for your fellow staff when they encounter obstacles.
During the discussion, give them space to express their opinion so that communication does not only occur in one direction.
5. Give feedback
When you are a supervisor, you are responsible for what fellow staff do. However, staff can also correct and provide advice to the first line leader.
Give them space to speak up about their work and duties, including your performance while working directly with them.
Leading other people as well as carrying out a role in the organization is not an easy thing and requires flying hours. To achieve and achieve group goals that align with the organization, you may need special skills as a first line leader.
You can take part in the First Line Leadership training program in the Prasmul Eli Short Program. This can also be provided by the company for employee career development so that they can become a qualified supervisor.