How do you grow an all-star team to run your business smoothly with minimal stress for each of its members? Building this type of team is easier said than done, especially when dealing with determined individuals with strong, distinct personalities. Fully functioning teams need more than just top talent and skilled players. The best business teams maintain a sense of camaraderie, practice good communication, view each other with respect, and hold the trust of every teammate.
How can you bring everybody together to grow into a well-oiled machine? With these tips, you can foster an environment of communication, cooperation, and creativity to grow a great team:
• Diversity is key.
Creative solutions are difficult to find without the input of others. One of the greatest strengths of having a team is the benefit of multiple perspectives. Every person has a unique way of looking at the world, and all viewpoints hold their own unique value. If the majority of your team is made up of the same type of person, you will miss out on important insights that could solve your larger problems. Building a diverse team is the best way to see problems from every possible angle and form the best solutions.
• Set your goals together.
Every member of your team should share a common goal: your company’s mission. As a team, you should come up with concrete, detailed steps that will bring you closer to the mission over the course of the coming months and years. You should also know each member’s individual goals so you can effectively dole out responsibilities, group people based on shared goals, and build a foundation of mutual understanding within your business.
• Delegate responsibilities wisely.
People work better when their roles are clearly defined. Dole out the responsibilities of your company with the goal of balancing tasks between individuals with different strengths. For example, if one team member prefers paperwork to conversation while another is social but hates to sit behind a desk, having the first employee fill out the orders that the second employee scores in the field will bring harmony to your entire operation.
Building a diverse team is the best way to see problems from every possible angle and form the best solutions.
• Value and reward your team.
Celebrate team accomplishments as often as you can. Offer your employees words of praise, shout them out in the company newsletter and treat them to lunches when you know they have worked particularly hard. People stay motivated if they encounter tiny rewards along the road to success.
• Focus on building relationships.
Spend time with each team member to get to know their personality. Invest in learning what they like or dislike through casual conversation. Knowing their strengths, hobbies and other skills means you can optimize their responsibilities, minimize their stress and prove that you care about their well-being.
Offer your employees words of praise, shout them out in the company newsletter and treat them to lunches when you know they have worked particularly hard.
The hardest part of growing your team can be trusting your leadership instincts. You might get stressed when you feel like it all comes down to you, but remember that a well-oiled team depends on each other as much as the leader. Lead with integrity and you will set an example for all. If you follow a few guiding principles such as honesty, respect, understanding, and asking questions, as well as the advice above, you will find yourself growing the best team in no time.
For more great entrepreneurship tips, read our earlier articles on motivating your team and evaluating candidates.
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