Owning a business requires leadership, vision, innovation, and persistence. But most of all it requires teamwork and collaboration. Over the past few years, we learned a lot about ourselves and the people we have in place to support our business. When times get tough, does your team step up and work together to make a difference? Or do they operate as individuals with no commitment to customers or each other?
Does your culture promote collaboration and teamwork? If not, you can change the storyline at any time and create what you need for your business to be successful — a real team.
Related: Hiring | 7 do’s and don’t to make your efforts pay off
Team Building Secret
So, what is the secret to building a great team? It’s not about paying them a lot of money, but always paying them what they are worth. It’s not about giving them weeks and weeks of paid time off. But getting paid to enjoy time away is always appreciated. You may be surprised to learn that some of the best ways to build a strong team cost you very little.
#1 – Get Them Engaged.
Vince Lombardi had the right idea. “Individual commitment to a group effort is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, and a civilization work.” Individual commitment comes from participation and understanding. The more involved your team is, the more committed they are to its success. And since some of the best ideas for business growth and improvement come from employees, it’s time to get them engaged. Then everyone wins!
#2 – Show Appreciation.
As human beings, we want recognition and need to feel appreciated. It’s natural. So what do you do to make your team feel appreciated? Again, it’s not about money. Yes, token gifts or group lunches are nice; but simple things like thank you for a job well done, recognizing them in front of peers and customers, and soliciting their suggestions go a long way. All it takes is a little forethought and some of your time!
#3 – Volunteer Together.
With so many needs in local communities, this is an opportunity to work together outside the traditional work environment. These projects help you get to know co-workers as people. It’s a great way to build personal relationships. Find a volunteer project the team can get behind – and do it together. Have fun while you help others.
#4 – Give Them Authority
When you give people the opportunity and authority to be their best, you will get the best out of them. Provide your team with the guidance they need. Then give them the authority to make decisions and solve problems. It’s the best way to demonstrate trust.
Get Your Team Off the Sidelines
When your people are committed and in the game, you set yourself up for success. So, make sure you hire the right people, invest in their development, and create a collaborative culture. When you do, you and your business will be in a better place. One where you will survive whatever the world throws at you.
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About Joan Nowak
I’ve been helping business owners turn ideas into profits for more than a decade. My whole-business, common-sense approach empowers my clients and drives improvements in critical areas, including revenue, operations, team development, customer satisfaction, and profitability.