There are good Team Leaders, and there are great ones. Of course, you want to be in the latter category, right?

Luckily, that’s not so hard. Just follow a few simple principles, and you will be on your way to becoming a 5-star Team Leader who people love to work with. 

Here are some good rules to remember. Follow these, and you will be well on your way to success.

You may have had bosses in the past who think they are the bees-knees. They seem to think the world revolves around them. But that’s not a healthy approach. 

You should focus on the people you are leading and their needs. You are there to serve them much more than they are there to serve you. Aim to empower your agents to succeed by allowing them to take the initiative.

When you put your team members first, they will respond by giving you 100% effort. That way, everyone’s a winner. 

In a US survey, half of all employees reported that their bosses are liars who take credit for anything good that happens. These leaders didn’t give credit where it was due, failed in keeping promises, and blamed others as a way to cover up their mistakes. As a result, workers weren’t satisfied with their jobs, were less likely to take on additional tasks, and were more likely to leave.

To win the loyalty of your team, you need to be honest in all your dealings with them. You should have integrity and be humble about your role in the organization. 

Try to be aware of people’s feelings and deal with them compassionately. When you understand how they feel, you are in a better position to help. 

President Truman had a sign on his Oval Office desk that said, “The Buck Stops Here.” That’s an excellent principle to live by as a Team Leader. 

Don’t pass the buck to someone else or try to shirk the blame for mistakes. You will win much more acclaim if you own up to your own mistakes and help others fix theirs. 

Being accountable is an essential element in the leadership role. It will help you achieve much more with fewer mistakes. 

Warren Buffet regularly tells MBA students that their degree will give them an edge, but it’s public speaking skills that will put them ahead of their competitors. 

To be an effective leader, you must be an articulate speaker. That’s an ability few are born with, but everybody can learn. Always prepare what you are going to say. It also helps to be a keen listener. Great leaders can make you feel like the most important person in the room because they are present in the moment, and they go beyond listening to really hear you.

Seeking and listening to feedback from the team is a powerful way to cultivate self-esteem in yourself and the team.  

When a member of your team performs exceptionally well, it’s time to take action. Your top performers are the model for everyone else on the team. So it’s important to draw attention to their efforts.

You can always find ways to reward excellence, even if it’s in a small way. For example, you could tell the team member to finish work an hour early or take some time off the next day. It’s enough to acknowledge their contribution—and to show that you care. 

This will encourage other members of the team to level and become top performers, too.  

You may be in an Advanced position now, but that doesn’t mean that you’ve reached the top of your profession. On the contrary, there is always more to learn.

So keep yourself educated with new interpersonal, technical, and management skills. These will all help you become even better at your job. 

Even top CEOs like Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington, and Bill Gates have reading lists. This is because they understand the value of knowledge.