- Introduction
- What Can a Team Leader Help You With?
- Conclusion
Introduction
Starting at OG you’ll notice a few things are different from what you could expect. One of the first differences is the role of a team leader, and how it functions. A team leader is not your manager. They are your "friends," "buddies,” or guides within the company, while heads are your managers.
Starting from the very first days at a company, moving to details, we will show you how leadership looks at Order Group and answer the question what TL can help you with.
What Can a Team Leader Help You With?
First Days
Do you know the feeling when you start at a new company, and your head is full of questions? We all do. Team Leader and the People team led by Joanna Osuch are the ones you want to contact if you need any clarifications or help. While Joanna’s job can be very different from yours, a team leader is usually a person just like you - a developer or, in general, somebody who’s doing just the same things as you are. They know your perspective, they are in the same place as you are. This makes it for them to introduce you to the team & the rules we have inside our company, since once they were in the same spot as you.
Once onboarding is behind us, the work begins, and it happens that you may hit a slump at times. What then?
Motivation
We all feel down sometimes. You don't really know why, but you want to justify ripping someone's head off. We know the feeling. It’s good to talk to somebody then & pour your heart out. You could find a solution to the problem together, or maybe just feeling a bit better is what you need. In either case, your “buddy” is the person you can talk to. They will know exactly what you’re working on, what obstacles you are facing & any frustrations you might encounter.
Above all, we want you to feel good when working at OG, and Your leader plays a key role in the process. They also will:
- check in with you, either through casual chats, one-on-one meetings, or even team surveys.
- cheer you on, celebrate your successes (big or small!), and recognize your contributions.
- address Your concerns. After all, two is better than one.
Last Days with Us
Sadly, there are times when we have to say goodbye. Even though “breakups” can be a bitter experience, a team leader plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth offboarding process for departing team members.
We always want to know what we could have done better/differently. Gathering valuable feedback is crucial. If one day we part ways, you will be talking to a TL during an exit interview. This allows you to share your experiences, both positive and negative, and helps us identify areas for improvement.
Culture & Communication
Last, but not least is the company culture & communication. Perhaps the most important aspects of being a TL is conveying the company culture & communication well. These two areas are the most important & time-consuming, because of their importance. Without understanding why we do what we do & why we don’t do some other things is crucial. Having a positive impact is one of our values, and it’s a part of our mission. It’s who we are and who we strive to be.
That’s why your “buddy” will explain everything to you, as well as showing you all internal resources. They will also introduce you to the team and explain why on Earth everybody writes “hey” on our global slack channel (although not sure on this one).
That’s in theory, and what does one of our TLs say about fulfilling the role?
So many of the points we outlined are mostly about communication. That’s because a TL is the most important intermediary between the layers of the company. Team leaders play a vital role in shaping the team's culture and fostering effective communication.
Order Group's values are at the core of everything we do. Our leaders serve as role models for other team members by embodying Order Group's values, demonstrating strong communication skills, and fostering a positive and collaborative work style.
I have been a team leader for 1.5 years, and "in my career," I have experienced difficult situations such as negative feedback. However, the vast majority of my experiences have been positive, where the trust I have built with my team members has led them to come to me for help with personal matters as well.
On a daily basis, I enjoy the people-centric aspects of my TL role: I get to interact with people and learn their stories, and often just listening to someone's problems is already a solution for them.
In my opinion, the most important thing in this role is to be open to other people. I believe that creating a space for open and honest conversations is very important, even though it is not always easy to do. I also hope that everyone in my team knows that they can come to me with anything.
Conclusion
Our TLs are dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive work environment, ensuring that our colleagues feel valued and appreciated. They go beyond the technical aspects of projects and focus on creating an office culture that promotes collaboration, growth, and overall well-being.
While our leaders play a crucial role in shaping our work culture, they work with technical leaders, together with you, to ensure that our teams are equipped with the skills and resources they need to excel. In the next article, we'll go into the role of technical leaders.
