I have worked with many successful small businesses over the years. And while successful businesses come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, one thing that almost all of them have in common is very simple: strong teams.
Strong teams, whether big or small, are vital—because they enable the business owner to spend his or her time efficiently, knowing that his or her employees will be handling their responsibilities properly. This leads to less chaos, better organization, and less stress. Ultimately, it leads to better customer service, more profits, and a more pleasant working environment.
So yes, strong employee teams are important. And today I’d like to share with you seven tips to building stronger teams in your business.
1) Understand that employee development is an investment. Coaching and training employees takes time. And when your small business is running at maximum capacity, time is usually scarce. But it’s important to understand that the time you commit to strengthening your employees is a direct investment in the future of your business. So don’t look at it as time wasted—look at it as a wise investment.
2) Don’t “do it yourself” even if it would be easier. One reason that so many business owners are stuck doing just about everything by themselves is that it often seems like it is easier to just do it, rather than train someone else to do so. This may be true in the short term. But in the long run, the more tasks and responsibilities you can delegate to your team, the better off you’ll be.
3) Don’t micromanage. Nobody likes to be micromanaged. Micromanaging tends to suppress the creativity and the motivation of your employees. Set standards and hold them accountable—but give them the freedom to do their job without dictating every detail.
4) Consistently provide feedback. Many business owners look at feedback as a formal exercise, something to do on an annual or quarterly basis. But creating strong employees and strong teams requires consistent feedback. Providing feedback, both positive and negative, is vital to employee development. So do it regularly!
5) Hire for character and culture. You can train employees to perform specific tasks and develop specific skills. But you can’t teach honesty, enthusiasm, or motivation. So when you’re hiring, do your best to select employees with strong character and who are a good fit with the culture of your business.
6) Create systems so that employees don’t have to “re-invent the wheel.” Systems that can be repeated time and time again allow your employees to spend their time efficiently, and allow them to deliver consistent results. Every aspect of your business can be systemized, from billing to marketing to customer service to the delivery of products and services. We’ll discuss this process in depth in future articles!
7) Lead by example. Finally, understand that you set the tone and set the example. If you expect your employees to offer great service, you had better demonstrate it yourself. If you expect your employees to show up on time each day, don’t be late yourself! It’s a simple concept, but it is profoundly important!
Questions or comments? Please contact me today to learn more!