Building an effective team can be a difficult and complex task but is the most rewarding experience when you build a successful one that truly signifies what you were seeking. “With 20 plus years of experience with building successful teams, the best teams are the ones that have people who are good at what they do and are all in alignment with the larger project goals. Our job is to find those types of people.
It’s no small feat but can be built with the proper techniques. How to Build an Effective Team in 10 Steps!
1. Know Your Goals: What goals do you want to accomplish in your business? What is your idea of success? Know what you want to achieve before you initiate your business. Determining what is needed for your business including finances, people and products or services is a crucial aspect of business.
2. Know Your Team’s Purpose: What roles does your business need? What characteristics and skills are you looking for in an employee? Create a workplace that is filled with capable and able people who have passion for the job. Hire good people that fit your needs. Don’t settle on people to just fill a position.
3. Interview Process and Team Fit: The most difficult part of building a team is finding individuals who can work well together. You would never put 11 keepers on the roster for your soccer team, you want a variety of skills and experience. Complimentary skill sets and personality are essential. We always look for smart people who know how to get stuff done.
4. Communication: Always know what is going on with your team. Try to keep your relationships with staff open, honest and straightforward. Set your expectations before a task is complete. Clear communication will get the tasks you need done, completed and the success you’re striving for to heighten. Your staff is the driving force behind your business, talk to them.
5. Diversity: Race, gender, skills etc. Allow all walks of life into your business. This provides more creativity flow, more ideas, concepts and perceptions. Diversifying your staff only adds beneficial outcomes and solutions. There is no comfort zone in business. Hire the unexpected, they may surprise you. Remember: Smart people who get stuff done.
6. Clear Expectations: Like with the communication step, being straightforward and giving clear instructions is important. The worst thing to do is make assumptions about what each team member thinks you expect of them. Your team can’t read your mind and can’t know what is expected of them if they aren’t told.
7. Motivate: Motivate those around you to keep going, or to be better. Praising your staff and acknowledging hard work and effort will increase their productivity and performance. Always take responsibilities for challenges, and give praise to team members for their contribution. We can’t always ensure a specific result, but we can always put forth effort.
8. Rewards: Don’t forget to give back to your staff. Bonuses, raises, incentives etc. Look for ways to reward good performance and tasks. This tells your staff that you’re appreciative of their work and are willing to showcase your appreciation. This also keeps productivity high.
9. Work Place Environment and Culture: How comfortable is your staff with each other? How is your team’s collaborative efforts? Make sure you help aid in the creation of work relationships. Staff need an environment that isn’t uneasy. Somewhere that is positive and motivating.
10. Respect: Respect those who work for you. Better quality work, productivity, performance and results are created when your team feels respected. Having regard for feelings, ideas and circumstances will help for better achievements.