The success or failure of every business will depend on the choices that he and his team make.
No matter how profitable a business appears to be, under the helm of a disorganized team, everything will fall apart at some point. Melvyn Mangion argues that for that reason, it is in your best interest to build a strong team right from the start. That way, you can quickly embark on making your business profitable in the long term.
Here are some strategies that should help you in enhancing your team building efforts:
Define Your Business Goals Clearly
It is useless to find the best professionals in the business if you have no idea of what you want out of your business.
You must first define your business goals clearly before you embark on team building activities. Where do you see your business in 3 years? What do you aim to achieve with your business? What kind of products and services would you like to sell in the long term? Once you define your business goals, you can set about getting people who will work to achieve your vision.
It is never too late to set goals.
Clearly Define Job Descriptions
When people sign up to work for you, they need to know what is expected of them. Otherwise, do not bother with proceeding with team building because it will not work.
For you to have an effective team, your people need to work together without friction. If your employees have no idea of what their role in your business is, they are going to interfere with each other’s work. And that’s when trouble starts.
It is therefore, important for you to take the time to clearly define the job descriptions of the people you need in order to build your business team. This will allow everyone in your team to do the job you hired them to do.
Hire Team Members Based on Strengths
Everyone has weaknesses. To be human is to be imperfect. So, you should concentrate on the strengths of the professionals you need to hire, to get the best out of everyone.
Do you need someone to take care of your clients on social media? Hire someone who thrives on social interactions. Do you need a content marketer? Hire someone who is creative enough to come up with content ideas and the actual content.
A team built on everyone’s strength will go far argues Melvyn Mangion. People within that team will thrive because they will be doing what they are passionate about and good at. Everyone likes to feel successful. So be sure to incorporate strength-based hiring in your team building plan.
Hire Team Members Who Are Good Collaborators and Communicators
Selfishness has no place in an effective team. All you need is one selfish person, hell bent in claiming all the credit for good work, for sabotage to occur.
For you to have a strong team in place, you need to recruit professionals who are good communicators and collaborators. In fact, you should be on the lookout for people who describe themselves as such.
You want someone who has no problem sharing information. Find people who are good at working with others. If a professional is willing to go the extra mile to help a colleague when the need arises, that’s even better.
Do not hesitate. Hire that person! He or she will come in handy when you are building an effective team.
Create and Maintain Fair and Transparent Systems
The last thing you want is for team members to resent each other. That way lays failure.
You should create and maintain fair and transparent systems that guide the way team members are hired, fired, or promoted. Also, outline the procedures that people should follow when interacting with each other or reporting on various projects.
Promoting a merit-based system, which rewards excellence and hard work, is one of the best business decisions you can make. Systems of this nature will go a long way in ensuring that everyone puts in the work required to push your business ahead of the competition. They will make your team building attempts more effective.
Find a Good Leader for Your Team
There are a good number of professionals who are good at their jobs and can work well with others. However, not all of them will have the desire or the skills to lead a team.
Your job is to find those that possess both the desire and the skills to lead a group of talented people toward achieving your business goals.
Think of a team leader as a captain of the ship. Without the guidance of the captain, all the crew will be directionless and may end up steering the ship wrong. It is quite easy to sink a ship that is being steered in all directions.
Your business is like that. For your team to be strong and effective, you must ensure that a good leader is at the helm. Take time to find someone your employees will be willing to follow.
The leader you choose should be fair always, and yet firm when there is need for it. And if you can find a team leader who can inspire people to greatness, you will all achieve success.
Give Your Team Creative Freedom with Guidelines
The reason you need to hire people who are good at their jobs, is so that you do not have to do everything. You cannot be in all places at once.
No one can.
It is imperative therefore, that you hand over the reins to the people you hire to work for you. Trust the professionals that you have hired to do their jobs. By giving your employees creative freedom while providing some clear guidelines, you should be able to relax a bit. Isn’t that the point of hiring experts after all?
Place Emphasis on Commitment during Team Building and Beyond
Beware of aimless job hoppers. Loyalty is not their strong suit.
As much as possible, avoid forming a team that consists of professionals who lack commitment. Teams need to have people who work together through thick and thin to get things done.
Find the most committed professionals you can when building your team. That way, they will have time to bond and learn to work together as an effective team. Team building is a process says Melvyn Mangion – one that will take a while. Take the time to hire the right professionals for your team and you will never be sorry about the business investments you make.