If you want to learn how to build an effective team for your business, I caution you that it is not an easy task, but it certainly is worth it.
The greatest advantage that you can give a team is the ability to make decisions quickly and stick with them. When no one on your team understands how they are supposed to work together, it will be difficult for any of them to take action.
This post will help you define what success looks like in your business and ensure that your team knows exactly what their roles are.
Furthermore, having clear goals at all levels ensures that everyone’s efforts add up towards the right direction from team leaders down through the newest recruit or team member.
Building A Team Is Not Easy.
BUT DEFINITELY WORTH IT
There will always be challenges and it’s up to the leader to keep everyone on track. These seven practical tips can help you build a better, more consistent team that succeeds faster and easier than ever.
Establish A Firm Commitment Through A Contract
A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties that details what each party promises to do. An entrepreneur who is committed to their business should always have a variety of contracts drafted in the event an agreed upon set of standards need to be ratified through the use of a contract.
If you intend on creating long-term relationships with your team members and ensure that everyone succeeds, having a contract to solidify their commitment to the vision and direction of the business is crucial in operating and growing together.
Not to mention, contracts have a tendency to make normal things official and apply the necessary healthy pressure to be held bound by the contractual agreement.
When your team signs a contract, things become a little more significant.
Set A Consistent Day For A Team Accountability Meeting
The most successful entrepreneurs are consistent with their work and planning. This means that they have a system for keeping themselves accountable as well as keeping their team members accountable.
From tasks assigned to them, to the goals set forth by each individual and the team as a whole, staying accountable is the glue that keeps the forward progress moving and maintains the momentum each week.
It is important to hold regular meetings with your team so you can discuss the progress made on tasks in a given period. As a leader it is important to set an example.
That’s why consistent meetings are important. Leaders can use that time to cast vision, check in with each team member, recalibrate and reignite, and create a routine to build culture.
With everyone being so busy, it’s easy to dismiss a standing meeting to accommodate everyone. However, by establishing a set time and day to meet weekly, it provides a sense of structure and routine required for high performance. Would you rather be nice to your team or have them succeed?
Provide Easy-To-Implement Weekly Actionable Tasks
When working in a team environment, you want to be mindful of the levels of capabilities that exist in your team members. Some are more advanced in their skill set and some are just getting started with their professional career.
It is important that you instill a culture of action so they take pride in getting the work done and not feeling disappointed if a desired outcome is not achieved. Activity is the focus. Creating a common set of measurable tasks that are easy to implement will provide structure and duplication so that even the newest team member or the least advanced can execute, complete, and experience success.
Provide Easy To Follow Training On The Task
Most people are not able to build a successful team, let alone a successful business. It is hard work with a plethora of moving pieces so it is necessary to learn from others or be a part of a community that will support your growth.
Team building, when done properly, provides easy to follow, step-by-step support on how to succeed in your area of work or field of training. If there is no easy to follow training or a systematic onboarding process, then you have a hard road ahead of you.
Every successful team has easy to follow training because you want to make things simple for everyone to understand and implement.
Some teams provide a clear pdf guide, others provide a liner learning portal, other companies institute a live session. Before joining any team always find out what the training is like and if it’s simple for people to follow.
Follow Through On Consequences Of Non-Implementation
Consequences are vital in any relationship. It helps to lay the ground rules and set proper expectations. Following through on consequences of when tasks are not-implemented or if the work stipulated on the contract does not get done, will ensure that your accountability is taken seriously and means something.
Without proper consequences, you run the risk of your team “flaking” or not sticking to their word.
Following in step with the weekly accountability meeting, do not be afraid to mention the wins as well as the areas of improvement during the meeting.
Celebrating wins is common practice and easy to do because everyone wants to be cheered on and recognized.
Accountability Allows For Course Correction
But the real power in an accountability group is in the chance to course correct and identify team members who need to be held accountable.
When done in a healthy and encouraging manner, following through on consequences will yield tangible and favorable results. And the team members who need the support will appreciate the accountability and become better for it.
Celebrate Wins EVERY Week
Organize a custom team building event that brings your employees closer together, makes everyone feel more involved and increases productivity on the job.
By getting the entire team behind the bigger picture rather than just one person, you’ll create a wave of enthusiasm that’ll lead to a more productive team. When everyone is celebrated for their hard work, the culture improves and grows into a thriving community.
When the team wins, the whole company wins. In a world where a lot of us are tethered to our smartphones 24/7, focusing on your team’s successes will bring them together and help to build lasting excitement for long term growth.
Establish Weekly Reporting For Work Product
Weekly reporting plays a significant role when trying to grow a business. It allows everyone on the team to be held accountable to their work and what is required of them.
It also establishes structure for teams who are starting out, or growing and handling more responsibilities.
Who doesn’t want to be able to prove the value you provide? Some people think success is based on the direct outcome or result. But, in this case and in a team environment, the activity and process is usually much more valuable than the outcome desired.
When you can measure the success of actions taken, you’re better equipped to make more calculated decisions, which eventually result in the desired outcome anyway.
This Is How To Build An Effective Team
- Establish A Firm Commitment Through A Contract
- Set A Consistent Day For A Team Accountability Meeting
- Provide Easy-To-Implement Weekly Actionable Tasks
- Provide Easy To Follow Training On The Task
- Follow Through On Consequences Of Non-Implementation
- Celebrate Wins EVERY Week
- Establish Weekly Reporting For Work Product
Write these steps on a post-it and keep it handy as you work on your business. These steps will help you accelerate your growth and build an effective team for the long run. Your team members will appreciate you for it…as will your bank account 😉