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When I started my adventure with programming, I did not think that I would be able to manage a team. But eventually, I became the Java Team Leader in Kambu, and it was quite a surprise for me at first. After the emotions had subsided, it was time for reflection. Can a programmer with a rigid mind, a person without experience, cope with this new situation?
I was terrified by the thought that I had never worked with a real Team Leader. Now, when I look at it, I think it was a very good situation. Why? Due to the lack of a pattern from which to draw an example, I had to work out all the good or bad behaviors myself.
Many failures and successes have shaped the way my team works today, and I may even be tempted to say: “my family”. I have specifically written my family in quotation marks because I would not like to downplay the importance of a real family, but emphasize how important these people are to me.
In this article, I will list some of the most important aspects that, directly or indirectly, have influenced who I am now and how I am trying to do the work of both a Team Leader and a programmer.
Top Factors That Hold The Team Together And Makes Us a Good Team
1. Team – The Team Is Us
For me, the team consists of people with different personalities. For a period of time, I tried to pick people who were most similar to me or to the other members of the team. This proved to be a wrong strategy.
Diversified views, different personalities, or specializations, which are abundant in software development, have a positive impact on the quality of the work of the entire team.
The disparities in the team in terms of the level of knowledge also affect its quality. People with less experience learn from older colleagues, while experienced programmers remember and consolidate the basics that they might have forgotten a long time ago.
2. Trust – You Can’t Go Without It
From the very beginning, the team I worked for was built with friends. I would wish other Team Leaders such a comfortable situation. Knowing that there are people on your team who will not leave you in a crisis situation makes it much easier.
However, we all know that the lineups of teams change. People who have just joined need time to find their place, which makes them seem a bit isolated. Leaving such a situation unresolved will destabilize work and increase divisions, which over time may cause the group to break up.
3. Commitment – Overcoming Difficulties
Regardless of the function performed, everyone should demonstrate the same strong commitment. Not monitoring the level of commitment of team members can lead to two very bad situations: Those more involved may feel underappreciated because others do less and may burn out professionally quickly. On the other hand, those less engaged will be perceived as those who should not be rewarded because they work less well.
I would like to make it clear that more commitment does always not mean working more hours, but I believe that commitment can be shown in many different ways, regardless of knowledge or seniority in a team.
4. Honesty – Less Conflicts
To everyone who comes to work in the team, I say: “Tell me the truth so that I can lie for you.” I don’t take this rule word for word, deceiving everyone around me.
It is more about not hiding failures and problems. Sooner or later they will be exposed, and then it may be too late to mitigate the problem.
In most cases, informing the Team Leader and communicating this information properly avoids many problems.
5. Human – We Are All People
After a short time fulfilling my duties as Team Leader, I realized that everyone has better and worse days. Each of us has different private and professional problems. It is important that we do not combine private problems with work. However, I realize that this is impossible.
If personal or professional problems already affect the quality of the work we do, it is most important to be listening and understanding. Avoiding conversation – or worse, punishing – is harmful.
Conclusion – Not Only About The Success Stories
All the issues I have described, in my opinion, are the most important aspects that characterize a good team and must be constantly paid attention to.
I haven’t met a group of people who always work out well. That’s why I believe that a good team is not one that is only successful, but one that can recover from defeats. Not consumed by conflicts and relatively stable. Made up of professionals, enthusiasts, new people who assimilate with the group and can say that they feel part of the team.
In such a group, people become colleagues and even friends. They can celebrate their successes, and they draw conclusions from their failures that make them stronger.
