An effective HACCP team leader has a variety of abilities, qualities and characteristics. One of those that I really connect to is to be a person that leads by example. In this post, we take a look at other traits that help to make a successful HACCP team leader.
Communicate
A successful HACCP team leader can communicate clearly and effectively. This not only includes verbal communication but also written communication. Don’t forget that listening is a major part of communication. Listen to your team and the people around you.
Know your Audit Standard
Read. Learn. Read. Learn. Repeat. You can’t expect to achieve HACCP success if you do not know the rules. Your food business relies on you to know the rules and constantly inform both management and other staff what they need to do to be compliant.
Be Organised
A successful HACCP team leader will be exceptionally organised. This will relate to completing verification activities on time, being able to find records quickly and HACCP food safety information easily. I use a really simple system to organize my clients’ food safety and HACCP documentation that you can get by clicking here.
Confidence
In the words of Simon Sinek – “Great leaders don’t need to act tough. Their confidence and humility serve to underscore their toughness”. If you have confidence in your abilities to serve as a HACCP team leader, your team and those around you will be better for it.
Facilitate greatness
A successful HACCP team leader is a powerful facilitator. Through this trait, you can help your team to achieve the organisation’s food safety and HACCP objectives. In the context of HACCP and food safety compliance, effective facilitation skills help to make sure your team is using the most effective approaches to problem-solving and decision making while reaching consensus efficiently.
Attitude is everything
Displaying a positive attitude contributes to a happy and motivated team with plenty of studies supporting this. Remain positive even when things do not go as expected. You can also spread a positive attitude by communicating appreciation for those under your leadership.
Attention to detail
The successful HACCP team leader needs to have an eye for detail. It is always those little things that you miss that can bring you undone. This is more so during any type of audit activity. Taking the time to tender to the little stuff can make a massive difference and shows that you care.
What characteristics would you add to this list? Let me know by leaving a comment below this post. If you want help in developing your skills as a HACCP Team Leader, check out our 10-part ‘Off the Menu’ podcast series on Professional Development.
