Small adjustments can lift you as a team leader

Registration: Team leadership – How to lead without personnel responsibility on 17 and 18 March

Recently, Maren Tunheim Bredesen (31) participated in NITO's course Team Management – How to lead without personnel responsibility, led by course instructor Cecilie Thunem-Saanum. The course is offered both spring and autumn and is designed for those who lead teams, projects or work groups without having formal personnel responsibility.

For many team leaders, the challenges are about far more than plans, progress and methodology. When you manage people without staff responsibility, it is often relationships, trust and collaboration that determine whether the team succeeds.

Maren knows this well. She works as a special advisor in IT and digitalization in Porsgrunn municipality, where she leads projects across municipal areas.

"I don't have personnel responsibility, and the project groups often consist of people with different experience, expertise and motivation. The team members also have their own operational tasks in their departments in addition to the project work," she says.

In addition, the teams are rarely fixed.

"I work with project groups that can last from one to three years. The team members come and go, and I don't have the authority to impose tasks on them. They have a different manager with personnel responsibility. This means that you have to lead in a different way.

Wanted to get better at the human side of leadership

Maren feels that the project manager role is about far more than project plans and professional methodology.

"I wanted to learn more about how an interdisciplinary team can benefit each other, and how I, as a project manager, can contribute to collaboration, competence sharing and trust. Therefore, I wanted professional replenishment that was more about the human part of the leadership role.

That was the reason why she signed up for the course.

Small steps can make a big difference

On the course, Maren gained several perspectives that she takes with her in her everyday work.

"I especially thought it was useful to talk about how to build trust with simple linguistic and body language measures, and how you as a team leader can become more aware of your own choices.

She also highlights the insight into how leaders can be perceived by others.

"I gained new perspectives on how you can unconsciously create unrest in a team through body language and the way you communicate. It made me reflect on my own role.

Confirmed that a lot of things already work

One of the most valuable things was that the course not only provided new tools, but also confirmed much of what she already does.

"After professional replenishment and tips on methodology, I believe that I will be a steadier team leader than I was before. I also got confirmation that much of what I do today is correct, and that small adjustments can lift my work to a higher level.

For Maren, it is important that the team members feel seen and heard.

"It has always been important to me. Now I have more tools for how I can build on good relationships and create new relationships around a common goal.

Practical and relevant learning

The course combined theory with concrete examples, reflection tasks and exchange of experiences.

"Demonstrations of methodology, concrete examples of procedures and group assignments were some of the most valuable things I took with me.

Even though the participants came from different companies and industries, she felt that the discussions hit the mark.

"The exchange of experience was very relevant, even though we had different backgrounds, industries and responsibilities.

She also highlights the course instructor as an important part of the experience.

"The course instructor was energetic and skilled, and good at relating the examples to my work role. The examples resonated well with the group, even though we came from different backgrounds and industries.

Why is it so challenging to lead without personnel responsibility?

Course instructor Cecilie Thunem-Saanum believes that many team leaders recognize the same challenges.

"One of the most common challenges is unclear roles and mandates. Many people are at the intersection of a personnel manager and the role of team leader or project manager. At the same time, they have to get people with different goals, priorities and interests to work towards a common direction.

She points out that team leaders without personnel responsibility often underestimate how much influence they actually have.

"Many people come to the course because they feel a bit powerless. They feel that they are not in control because they lack formal leadership responsibility. That's why we work a lot with communication, relationships and how to build ownership of common goals.

The goal is for the participants to return home with greater confidence in their role and a better understanding of how they affect others.

"My goal is for the participants to become more aware of their own communication and the interpersonal mechanisms that affect collaboration in a team. Small adjustments in how you communicate and build relationships can have a big impact on motivation, trust and results.

She believes the course is suitable for anyone who leads teams, project groups or professional environments without formal personnel responsibility.

"The course is particularly useful for those who are new to the role, but the feedback from experienced team leaders is also very good. Many highlight the combination of professional replenishment and exchange of experience with other participants as one of the most valuable. Plenty of time is set aside for discussions, and the conversations often continue even during the breaks.

One piece of advice for other team leaders

If Maren has to give one piece of advice to others who lead without personnel responsibility, it is to focus on the people.

– Set a good example. Be open, honest and credible. Focus on trust and security in the group, even if you think the team members know each other from before. Take the time to get to know them and play on their strengths.

She believes the course is suitable for both new and experienced team leaders.

"I would definitely recommend the course. It provides concrete and research-based approaches to dealing with challenges you face as a team leader, and is at the same time a valuable investment in your own development.

When asked how she would sum up the course in one sentence, she answers: