Join James and Megan as they continue the Support Series by talking about the people you go into business battle with each and every day. Whether they are your business partners, employees, volunteers, vendors, or contractors, they are the force multipliers of your enterprise.  

Our topic: Your Team!

Why is your team important to the success of your business?:

• The myth of the solopreneur is just that…a myth.  While there are those who don’t have a formal team of people around them, we all have someone we’re doing business with in some capacity.
• We simply cannot do it alone at a significant level.  We can start, but it will either crash from its own weight, or it will grow to the point others are absolutely needed.

What does an effective team look like?:

• The effectiveness of a team will show in the tangible and intangible results generated by the team over the course of time.
• The tangible results are things like profit, productivity, customer reach, awards, etc.
• The intangible results are things like fun, enjoyment, camaraderie, etc.
• It’s important to understand the role of each member and what they bring to the team…and don’t force or expect them to exceed that role.
• Hire to get the results you need, which may mean hiring people that are NOT like you.  If everyone is the same in terms of skills and perception and personality, you’ll still have major blind spots.
• Having an effective team doesn’t mean you win every time, but that over the course of time you band together to get the right things done and accomplish the mission of the business.

How can you ensure you build, grow, and sustain an effective team?:

• As the business owner, you are the leader.  Therefore, whatever you do you are leading.  If you want to be successful, you must lead well.
• There are so many leadership lessons that apply here.  Bottom line: You are the captain of the ship.  Act like it!
• Communication is critically important.  Everyone on the team needs to clearly understand their roles and responsibilities, even the owner.  It’s great that everyone wants to pitch in and help, but clear boundaries need to be established.
• The tangible and intangible results need to be measured, and they need to be pushed.  Which are most important and what are the established goals for each area?  This helps you drive the entire team to the desired accomplishment.
• Building a business on a solid foundation will make the communication, clarity, and hard decisions easier.  Get your plans in place.  Share the plan and the rest will fall into place much easier.

Action Steps:

1. Document your team and org chart.  Even if you are a solopreneur, there are people on your team (or there will need to be soon).
2. Define the measurements in your business and assess your team.  Creating a company dashboard will give quick indicators to the health of your team and business.
3. Make sure you have a solid plan in place.  Document and communicate your overall strategy.
4. Read The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business by Patrick Lencioni

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