You’re only as good as your team, or so the saying would go. And it’s true, none of us can go at it alone, or at least we can’t get too far. But being a leader means taking on more responsibility than everyone else, and sometimes it means taking responsibility for almost everything. In this article, we’re going to talk about the ways in which you can build your team and what you need to do in order to make it thrive.

First of all, a team is a mix of people. Thinking that everyone is cut from the same cloth is a nice way to get nowhere fast. Be mindful of the differences, of the various strengths and weaknesses and make sure you put the right person in the right place. Professionalism is very important and as a professional you shouldn’t give anyone preferential treatment. That would lead to a lack of motivation and discouragement in others, and that’s something you want to avoid.

On the same note, you have to be objective. Always try to keep your subjectivity to yourself for as much as possible. A big part of objectivity is setting clear goals. Clear goals can be huge motivators and they can stand as beams of light that can help you lead your team effectively. But being objective does not mean being a robot. Try to be as approachable as possible, and try to create an environment where communication is strongly encouraged. Still, rules are not meant to be broken and letting things slide can be a slippery slope. Don’t be paranoid though. Trust your team. Being a leader is a fine balancing act, and experience is gold when it comes to leadership.

Reward performance. Not providing incentives for going beyond the call of duty is a quick way to have people stop thriving. Also, keep regular team meetings. This will not only help you get more efficient at meeting your goals, it will also promote team cohesion. But make sure that in these meetings you take people’s suggestions into consideration, not all of them, but good suggestions should never go unnoticed. Don’t scold people in front of everyone, and don’t celebrate someone in private. Encourage team bonding and team bonding activities. Buy everyone a beer once in a while, and on the same note, come down hard on unhealthy competition.