Leadership & Team Management Flashcards

A high performer is promoted to team lead but struggles. The most likely cause is:

Answer: Not having developed people-leadership skills

Technical excellence does not automatically translate to leading others.

Which approach best develops future leaders?

Answer: Stretch assignments with coaching and feedback

Stretch assignments paired with coaching build leadership capability.

A team is split across time zones. Which practice most helps cohesion?

Answer: Set shared norms, overlap hours, and documented decisions

Clear norms and documentation keep distributed teams aligned.

In a one-on-one, what should the leader mostly do?

Answer: Listen and ask open-ended questions

Open questions and listening reveal obstacles and build relationships.

What is the leader's best response when the team misses a goal due to the leader's own error?

Answer: Take responsibility and explain corrective steps

Owning mistakes models accountability and preserves credibility.

Which describes effective decision-making in a team context?

Answer: Choosing the method (consult, consensus, or decide) that fits the situation

Leaders should match decision method to urgency, stakes, and expertise.

Which behavior most damages trust in a leader?

Answer: Inconsistency between words and actions

Failing to follow through erodes trust faster than almost anything else.