How to Manage a Team as a Leader: Lessons for Small Business Owners

Leading a small business demands versatility, but how to manage a team as a leader is the skill that truly shapes success. In deAsra Foundation’s dreamBIG podcast series, Mr. Adwait Kurlekar, a 30-year veteran in strategy and HR, shared actionable wisdom for entrepreneurs running nano enterprises (3–15 employees). 

Hosted by deAsra Foundation, with insights from deAsra’s blog, this blog blends Mr. Kurlekar’s advice with fresh, effective team management strategies. It explores intentional leadership, smart delegation, trust-building, and cultivating ownership, offering industry leaders vibrant tools to align teams with business goals.

The Heart of Leadership in Small Businesses

Small business owners juggle sales, operations, and more, but how to manage a team as a leader hinges on human connection. Mr. Kurlekar explains, “In a small setup, the owner is the institution.” Without corporate HR systems, leaders rely on personal relationships to drive effective team management strategies. Hiring practical talent—like an accountant for financial gaps—builds a team that complements the owner’s strengths, not mirrors their passion. This focus on immediate needs shapes a resilient workforce.

Mastering Delegation

Delegation is a cornerstone of how to manage a team as a leader. Mr. Kurlekar stresses, “Delegation means trusting someone to handle a task while retaining overall responsibility.” For example, a kirana shop owner might entrust the cash counter to an employee during a family event. Effective team management strategies involve:

• Spotting Gaps: Identify tasks, like bookkeeping, where you lack expertise.
• Prioritising Tasks: Use the Eisenhower Matrix to delegate low-urgency, low-importance tasks first, keeping critical ones for yourself.
• Trusting Wisely: Accept that employees may work differently, focusing on outcomes rather than methods.

These steps free leaders to focus on growth while maintaining control, enhancing effective team management strategies.

Communication: The Glue of Leadership

Clear communication is vital for how to manage a team as a leader. Mr. Kurlekar champions face-to-face talks in small teams, where body language reveals engagement. “Communication isn’t just words; body language is equally important,” he says. Leaders should:

• Set Clear Goals: Explain tasks precisely to avoid confusion.
• Engage Actively: Listen to team feedback, fostering two-way dialogue.
• Avoid Over-Managing: Let employees use their methods, boosting autonomy.

Modern effective team management strategies suggest regular check-ins, like weekly sync-ups, to align teams without stifling creativity. This builds trust and keeps everyone on track.

Building a Culture of Ownership

A thriving culture is key to how to manage a team as a leader. Mr. Kurlekar advocates a family-like environment where employees feel valued, especially during crises like medical emergencies. Transparency about business progress, without sharing financials, fosters loyalty. Effective team management strategies include:

• Showing Care: Support employees in tough times to build trust.
• Rewarding Effort: Monetary rewards matter, but simple praise, even public acknowledgement, boosts morale.
• Encouraging Growth: Align employee development with business goals to retain talent.

For example, in a restaurant, pooling tips to include cooks can unify the team, enhancing effective team management strategies.

Handling Performance and Accountability

Accountability drives how to manage a team as a leader. Mr. Kurlekar suggests using the RACI model (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) to clarify roles, reducing confusion. Modern strategies add:

• Performance Reviews: Conduct informal reviews to assess contributions and address gaps. If an employee consistently underperforms, reassess their fit.
• Goal Setting: Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals to track progress.
• Feedback Loops: Offer constructive feedback privately and celebrate wins publicly to maintain motivation.

These practices ensure effective team management strategies keep teams accountable while fostering growth.

Navigating Conflicts

Conflicts, like ego clashes over influence, can disrupt small teams. How to manage a team as a leader involves addressing disputes transparently. Mr Kurlekar advises using RACI to clarify roles, preventing finger-pointing. Additional effective team management strategies include:

• Neutral Mediation: Facilitate calm discussions to resolve tensions.
• Team Bonding: Workshops or team outings build empathy, reducing clashes.
• Swift Decisions: If conflicts persist, fair decisions, like parting ways, maintain harmony.

These approaches ensure conflicts strengthen, not weaken, team dynamics.

Leveraging Technology Wisely

Technology can amplify how to manage a team as a leader when used thoughtfully. Mr. Kurlekar recommends simple tools like WhatsApp for communication, ensuring clarity without complexity. Modern effective team management strategies suggest:

• Task Trackers: Tools like Asana assign tasks clearly, reducing role disputes.
• Feedback Platforms: Anonymous tools like CultureAmp identify issues early.
• Customer-Facing Tech: POS systems or QR codes enhance operations, freeing leaders to focus on team management.

Technology should support, not overwhelm, effective team management strategies in small teams.

Networking and Mentorship

Learning from peers is a powerful way to refine how to manage a team as a leader. Mr. Kurlekar suggests networking with non-competitors, like a bakery owner learning from a tailor about team dynamics. Mentors, beyond traditional CAs, offer tailored guidance. Platforms like deAsra connect entrepreneurs with experts, enhancing effective team management strategies through shared wisdom.

Avoiding Pitfalls

A common mistake in how to manage a team as a leader is assuming employees are unaware of business issues. Mr. Kurlekar warns that informal chatter, like breakroom gossip, spreads information fast. Transparency prevents mistrust. Other pitfalls include:

• Overloading Staff: Spread tasks evenly to avoid burnout.
• Ignoring Feedback: Act on employee input to show their voice matters.
• Neglecting Culture: Without growth, even strong cultures falter.

Avoiding these errors strengthens effective team management strategies and team cohesion.

Conclusion

Mr Kurlekar’s dreamBIG insights, blended with innovative, effective team management strategies, provide a vibrant guide for how to manage a team as a leader. By delegating wisely, communicating openly, and fostering ownership, small business owners can align teams with their vision. As Mr Kurlekar says, “Don’t look back over your shoulder” when leading—trust your team, leverage deAsra’s resources, and learn from peers to drive success.

FAQs

How can delegation enhance leadership in small businesses?
Delegation empowers teams and frees leaders to focus on strategic growth. By using tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritise tasks, as Mr. Kurlekar suggests, leaders can assign low-urgency tasks while retaining critical ones, ensuring effective team management strategies drive efficiency and trust.

Why is face-to-face communication vital for how to manage a team as a leader?
Direct interaction fosters trust and clarity, allowing leaders to read body language and align expectations. Mr. Kurlekar highlights its importance in small teams, where open dialogue strengthens effective team management strategies and prevents misunderstandings.

How can leaders ensure accountability in their teams?
Clear role definitions using the RACI model and setting SMART goals hold team members accountable. Regular feedback, as Mr. Kurlekar advises, reinforces responsibility, making effective team management strategies a cornerstone of how to manage a team as a leader.

What’s the best approach to resolving team conflicts?
Transparent discussions and tools like RACI clarify roles, reducing disputes. Mr. Kurlekar suggests neutral mediation to address issues fairly, ensuring effective team management strategies maintain harmony and support how to manage a team as a leader.

How does a strong culture contribute to how to manage a team as a leader?
A supportive, family-like culture builds loyalty and motivates employees. Transparency and care during crises, as Mr. Kurlekar notes, align teams with business goals, making effective team management strategies key to retaining talent and driving success.