Regardless of the industry that you work in, the size of your business, or your target market, competition is fierce. Having impressive products and services is a key part of rising above your competitors – after all, customers won’t pay attention to what you have to offer if it’s subpar – but one of the biggest factors in business success is your team, and it’s a factor that’s often overlooked. It’s not enough to hire a handful of professionals and hope for the best, you need to purposefully curate a team that’s great.
A team of individuals completing their own tasks will likely achieve good results, but a great team goes beyond this, working together to achieve exceptional results. In this blog, we have taken a look at how you can build great teams for your business and why doing so is important.
Build a Great Team in These Three Ways
There’s a lot that goes into building great teams, but these three ways stand out as being particularly important. You need to listen to your team, delegate your workload and trust those you are working with.
Listen to Your Team
Listening to your team is key, and it’s a big part of being a great leader. This doesn’t mean simply listening when your team is speaking, it means actively engaging with everyone on an individual basis and really hearing what they have to say. You need to pay attention to their ideas and concerns, and answer any questions that they may have. It’s not easy to listen as a leader, as you are likely to have a number of other things to do, but it’s not something to overlook.
To really listen to your team, minimise distractions by putting your phone away and give your team your full attention. Show that you are listening by maintaining eye contact, showing that you are engaged and interested in what they have to say.
Delegate to Your Team
A lot of team leaders fall into the trap of micromanaging, but this can hinder trust and motivation, holding your team back. When you delegate tasks, you empower your team by showing them that you trust their capabilities in the workplace. Of course, effective delegation means choosing the right person for the job. Instead of handing a task to the first person you see, consider their skills, experience and workload. This will give your delegation the highest chance of success.
When you are delegating tasks, be clear about what needs to be done, the desired outcome and the deadline. Give your team as much information as you can, and ensure they have the tools and information they need to complete the task successfully. After, provide feedback to help them to be even more successful next time.
Always Tell the Truth
As a leader, honesty really is the best policy. You need to be truthful with your team, whether you’re congratulating them on their success or giving them constructive criticism and negative feedback. You might be tempted to sugarcoat what you have to say, in the hope of sparing their feelings, but this can be detrimental in the long run. To build a great team, you need to communicate well, and this means avoiding language that’s vague or unclear. Instead, try to get straight to the point, and give as much detail as possible.
Telling the truth also means being honest about your mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes at work, so don’t be afraid to own up to yours and share them with your team. Explain what happened and how you will learn from it going forward, and encourage your team to do the same when they make a mistake. It’s also important to be honest about the decisions that you have made, whether that’s setting a specific sales goal or choosing someone over others for a promotion. Explain the reasons behind your decisions so that your team understands how you reached it. Your team should be able to come to you, knowing that they will get an honest answer.
Other Ways to Build Great Teams
Of course, telling the truth, delegating to others and listening to your team are only three of the things that go into building a great team. As a leader, you should also:
- Embrace Diversity and Inclusion – A great team should be made up of people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. This encourages creativity, innovation and problem-solving, as everyone brings something different to the table. It’s important to promote diversity and inclusion within your team to create a more dynamic workforce.
- Recognise and Appreciate Your Team – Recognising your team’s hard work is highly motivating, and it encourages individuals to continue working hard. Celebrate individual and team achievements, both big and small, and share your appreciation for what they have done. This will also boost morale and motivation, leading to a more positive working environment and improved employee satisfaction.
- Communicate Effectively – Open and honest communication is key for any team’s success, regardless of industry or sector. You should encourage regular communication amongst your team and provide opportunities for team members to share ideas, concerns and updates. This could be done as part of regular meetings, during team building activities or during informal catch-ups.
- Communicate Shared Goals and Visions – It’s important for a team to have a clear understanding of the business’ objectives, and how their individual contributions go towards helping to achieve this. Ensure that you regularly communicate the business’ vision and goals, and make sure that your team’s goals are aligned with this.
- Invest in Team Growth – Even the greatest and strongest teams can benefit from learning and development, so be sure to invest in team growth. This could include training programs, workshops or conferences, anything that helps them to further their skills. A great team is one that’s up to date with industry standards, trends and markets.
Why is Building a Great Team Important?
There are a lot of reasons to build a great team, such as:
- Expertise and Creativity – A great team brings together a diverse pool of knowledge, skills and experiences, all of which can boost creativity and expertise. When a group of talented professionals come together, they can tackle challenges from multiple angles, finding a solution quickly. This also helps to foster innovation and generate solutions that might have been overlooked if someone was working alone.
- Team Morale and Motivation – Being part of a supportive and collaborative team can be incredibly motivating, and it can help individuals to thrive at work. Team members often feel valued, appreciated and inspired by the successes of their colleagues, which encourages them to continually work hard and improve. This positive environment gives everyone a sense of having a shared purpose, which can lead to a more engaged and collaborative workforce.
- Maximised Productivity – A great team is also a key part of having a productive workforce. By dividing tasks based on strengths and working well together, a great team can achieve more in less time, which is hugely advantageous for a busy business. Clear communication, clear goals and a shared sense of purpose all contribute to a smooth workflow and maximised productivity.
- Expert Problem Solving – It’s not uncommon for a business to be faced with a complex problem, and a great team has everything needed to find a solution. A great team is made up of diverse perspectives, which can lead to a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of the problem. By working together to find a solution, and putting a range of perspectives to good use, great teams can identify potential problems quickly. They can consider different approaches to make an informed decision.
By listening, delegating and communicating honestly with your team, you can build a working environment where everyone feels valued, empowered and motivated to continually work hard towards shared goals. At Profici, we understand the importance of having a great team. As your business grows and you scale your processes, we are on hand to ensure that your team is up to the challenge. Get in touch to find out more.
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