Unit 2009V1 Introduction to Team Leading

Unit Overview

Unit 2009V1 Introduction to team leading is a unit within the CMI Level 2 module that improves the ability of the leaders within the organisation to effectively manage their teams. The process of leading project teams requires the leaders to have an understanding of the different principles that are applied. This involves being able to establish effective leadership styles and resources that are required for the workplace setting and being able to motivate the team members to pursue common goals. The leaders must understand effective approaches to communication that they can use to shape their contributions to the organisation.

This involves understanding different ethical decision-making models, problem-solving practices, and skills, as well as being able to influence the interaction within the team in the workplace. The learner is guided to understand different principles associated with facilitating operations within a small team or unit in the workplace. Therefore, it becomes important to put the learners through the process of training that helps to equip them with this knowledge and prepare them for leadership within their respective areas of responsibility.

Unit 2009V1 Introduction to team leading is a unit that focuses on introducing the learners to the understanding of the different principles of team leadership. This unit utilises interactive learning and practical activities to ensure that the learner understands both the theoretical and practical implications of the content that they need to learn within the organisation setting. The learners are taken through 25 hours of guided learning in the completion of this module which contributes 6 credit values towards the completion of the module in general.

Suitability of the Unit

Leaders, in different contexts of working, are required to contribute to shaping the performance of their teams. This involves being able to effectively influence the members of their teams to achieve optimum performance in different areas of practice. They should be able to develop effective practices, attitudes, and behaviors in relation to leading teams to achieve set goals and objectives. These models include decision-making, problem-solving, and communication models, which are critical in facilitating the effective management of project teams and small units within the workplace.

As such, Unit 2009V1 Introduction to team leading is a suitable unit for the leaders within the organisation. It helps the different leaders to understand the context within which specific leadership styles and principles are applied to achieve maximum outcomes. The unit is designed for the purpose o training new or aspiring team leaders. It helps to create the desired standards and levels of performance among the practising or potential team leaders.

Through the content that is taught in the unit, the learners understand the various practices and principles that they should utilise when they state the initial aspects of team leadership or in other areas of responsibility that they are assigned in the workplace. The unit is, however also important for other learners and stakeholders within the workplace. The senior and middle managers can benefit from t eh content of the unit, which improves their ability to coordinate team activities within the workplace. Employees and team members can also benefit from this content as it builds their ability to take part in the unit as well as improves the preparation for leadership roles and responsibilities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the unit, the learners should be able to:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of a team leader

• Understand the skills and knowledge that are required for a team leader to accomplish their duties within the workplace and in their areas of learning

• Construct a personal development plan, including assessment to identify development needs, that supports the development of skills and knowledge that are required for a team leader

• Explain the methods that are used within a team to communicate and confirm instructions with the line managers

• Identify the stakeholders with whom a team leader must communicate with and the reasons for such communication

• Describe approaches that can be used to establish relationships with those that a team leader needs to communicate with

• Identify approaches to constructing a work plan b a team leader and methods that can be sued to monitor and evaluate the progress of the workplace

• Describe methods of giving and receiving feedback from t eh team on progress and performance in alignment of the established goals and objectives

• Identify the role of the team leader in coaching the team members to support their performance.

Key Learning Areas

Unit 2009V1 Introduction to team leading is a unit that focuses on preparing the new and aspiring team leaders for their responsibilities within the teams. Some of the main areas of learning covered include:

Roles and Responsibilities of Team Leaders

This area of learning is critical in building the understanding that a team leader makes in accomplishing the goals and objectives of the organisation. They are guided to understand the principles that they should use in ensuring that they fulfill the desired goals and objectives of the team. In this area of learning, the learners are also guided to understand the measures that they can take to understand their performance capabilities and compare these against the required skills and knowledge of the team leader hence ensuring that they can conduct personal development to align their personal proficiency to the required standards.

Communication for Team Leader

This area of learning introduces the learners to the connection and networks that they should build to ensure that the team achieves its goals and objectives within the organisation. It involves understanding the stakeholders with whom team leaders must communicate including the line managers, operational leaders and team members, to coordinate the activities and performance of the teams. This area of learning also helps to t devise effective methods of communication, such as presentations and management of meetings to ensure effective communication.

Work Planning

This area of learning introduces the learners to the role of work planning in achieving the desired organisational and team goals and objectives. They are guided to understand principles of work planning, including scheduling, allocation of duties, and resource planning or resources within their areas of responsibilities. Learners are also guided to effectively monitor the accomplishment of tasks within the workplace and optimise performance through coaching and mentoring.

Evaluation

Upon completion of the unit, the learners are put through the assessment process. This includes a written assessment that evaluates the mastery of theoretical and practical information within the unit.