Starting and running a successful business is no easy task. It takes hard work, determination, ambition, and more often than not, an efficient business team. Most entrepreneurs at the helm of profitable companies will tell you that they would not have got far without valuable assistance from a dedicated team.
Bringing your employees together to form a cohesive and efficient team is a complex task; however, the success of your company depends on it. An efficient business team comprises several individuals, all performing different tasks but working in concert towards a certain goal.
The individuals in your business team will often be drawn from different departments (finance, sales, customer care, etc.) so you need to have the right skills to bring them together to work towards achieving one goal. In order for this to work, you need to know how to cultivate the right relationship among your team members. A good leader also knows how to skilfully interact with and relate to people, as well as how to inspire them to do their best for the common good.
While you might be an excellent business manager, your leadership abilities are the ones that will come in handy when running a business team. An efficient team will perform their tasks exceptionally well, and work hard to achieve their targets as well as deliver company services and products to clients. All these serve to increase productivity, profitability and increase the company’s bottom line.
By now, you might be wondering how to go about leading or managing your team well. Here are some tips that can help you get your dream business team up and running:
- Select the right people for the task.
Your team is going to be as good as its members, so you have to hire the right people from the start. Ensure that those you include in the team have the right mix of qualifications and experience to get the job done. It also pays to include a mix of different personalities to balance out your team. This way, you won’t have to spend money rehiring and training new people all the time.
- Communicate your purpose and goals.
Once you’ve set up your team, make sure you establish clear communication channels. Everyone in the team needs to understand their role and what they are working towards, as well as the company’s goals. Ensure the team is always aware of what is going on and communicate changes and obstacles as soon as they come up. Clear communication saves time and ensures that everyone is reading from the same script, saving the company from costly misunderstandings.
- Create a healthy work environment.
People like to work in a healthy environment. However, the stresses and strains of life can sometimes drive individuals to seek solace from drugs or alcohol. Such individuals can derail your whole team and even endanger their co-workers, depending on the job that they do. To prevent this, you can introduce workplace drug testing and counselling for affected employees. Find a company that can run oral fluid lab tests in a discreet manner with fast turnaround times, and engage their services regularly. Having a workplace drug policy in place can save your company millions in compensation claims. Remember to provide adequate support to team members to avoid stress and foster a healthy environment for all.
- Invest in your team.
Business leaders who take time to invest in their teams often reap big rewards. You can help your team members to develop their unique talents by taking them for industry conferences, seminars and training. The more they develop their skills, the more valuable they become to the company and to your customers. Also, learn to foster innovation by encouraging your team to think of novel solutions to problems. This way, the individuals in the team will become more creative and infuse freshness within the company.
- Develop a habit of positive reinforcement.
People who receive praise for a job well done often want to achieve more. Develop a habit of praising your team whenever they do good work, and learn to minimize your criticism. Instead of relying on fear tactics and threats, learn to encourage and commend the effort your team puts in. This will nurture a supportive environment where your team members feel appreciated and valued, which in turn motivates them to do their best.
- Have fun.
Striking the right work-life balance can greatly improve an individual’s productivity. For this reason, encourage your team to have vibrant lives outside work. You can also foster camaraderie and partnership among them by organizing fun team building activities or treating them to company retreats and getaways.
Remember, an efficient business team is a great company asset. Invest in yours and you’ll never go wrong.