In order for a small business to thrive and
survive, productive teamwork is the key. No matter what type of business you
are starting up or investing in, building a great team requires strong
leadership on your part. It’s not just about hiring the most qualified
individual. You have to consider the bigger picture of how those individuals on
your staff will work together as a team. In other words, you can’t always put
together a group of workers and hope they’ll “figure things out” on their own. Some personalities simply work
better together than others. You need to stay on top of your team to see how
those dynamics are playing out.
Here
are some helpful hints that can lead you towards building that effective team.
1)
Establish the Goals: What is your
definition of success for your business? That should be the goal that everyone
on the team is striving for. It can’t just be about “getting through the day”
but about expanding and growing. If that means adding to your customer base or
your product catalog then your team should be focused on those goals. You
should also set obtainable benchmarks to track the progress of achieving those
goals. It all comes down to keeping your team’s “eye on the prize.”
2)
Fix Problems Fast: There is no guarantee
that your “dream team” is going to
get along all the time. Before any conflicts crop up, you should establish the
ground rules for how they are to be resolved. This might mean clearly defining
the management structure and who on the team will handle complaints. If an
issue can’t be resolved quickly, then as the boss you need to step in and get
the problem fixed fast. You don’t want a disagreement to be blown out of proportion
and cause a distraction to everyone.
3)
Include the Team: This seems like a
no-brainer but it’s often easy for one or two staff members in a small business
to dominate discussions or meetings. You should strive to be as inclusive as
possible of all your team members. A simple approach is to turn a question back
onto the team members. Ask someone who doesn’t always speak up how they might
handle a particular situation. This will empower everyone to be a more active participant
in the business. Nobody should be working “under the radar.”
4)
Reward Hard Work: There are many
businesses that use bonuses as a way of inspiring staff members to fulfill
their goals. While this is a proven method it might also set up some unwanted
competition and create bad feelings among the staff. This is especially true if
someone gets a bonus on the back of somebody else’s hard work. Try to find a
reward which benefits the entire team like a dinner or happy hour celebration.
5)
Be the Boss: A strong leader takes in
the opinion of those around him but ultimately has the final word. You need to
establish that in the end you’ll have that final word in your business. This
doesn’t mean micromanagement but taking on the major decisions. Often a staff
at a small business develops into deep friendships that extend outside of work
hours. However, as the boss you need to maintain a certain distance when it
comes to those personal relationships. There is no reason why you can’t have
fun with your team but always remember they will be looking up to you for
leadership. Keep your relationships with your team professional.
