BUS 301 - Team Leader

BUS-301 “Business in Action” is all about learning by doing and project-based action learning courses bring education alive. BUS-301 “Business in Action” is part of the Gies cohort experience ensuring that every Gies graduate participates in an action learning project. Teams of 6 students meet regularly, throughout the semester, with a real client to understand their organization and their challenge. In class, students learn a series of tools and the team applies these tools to solve their client’s challenge. Experience working with clients means students graduate more prepared for the professional environment and are ready to succeed in their careers.

Team Leaders are an essential part of a well-functioning team that delivers an impactful deliverable to their client. Team Leaders create a common purpose to motivate and engage everyone on the team to contribute their best. Team Leaders are the primary point of contact with the senior manager, report on the health of the project, report on the health of the team, and provide guidance to improve both.

Team Leader duties include:  

• First and foremost, building an effective team culture by creating psychological safety, fostering team trust, encouraging internal communication, and developing shared norms to improve the working dynamic of the team. 

• Ensuring the project work is completed and holding teammates accountable to one another, not by doing the work yourself.

• Overseeing the client relationship by establishing consistent communication channels, keeping clients well-informed, and forming a mutual understanding of the project’s purpose. 

• Helping the team create defined roles, tasks, and responsibilities so every member feels comfortable contributing their unique skills, knowledge, and perspective to the project.