It is said that if you want to be successful, you must surround
yourself with great people. One of the most challenging aspects
of running your own business is finding great people and than
keeping them. For those of you that run businesses larger than
just yourself, it seems we are always trying to create that
special energy where everything is harmonious and smooth. You
know how delicate this is because one bad apple on the team can
spoil the whole bunch. I believe one of the most important
things we can do as business owners and managers, is re-invest
in our people on an on-going basis. There is nothing more
important than the continuity and energy of the group as they
represent your brand and deal with your customers. Here are some
tips to help you build a winning team:
Encourage Them
We all like to be encouraged. A
vote of confidence to your staff, a moment of connecting with a
staff member on an excellent act they performed, a simple quote
emailed to your staff on a daily basis, or leaving them a
voice mail every morning with some inspirational message. Catch
people doing good things and than verbally praise them.
Immediate praise is a great way to boost confidence and energy
and these are vital for the success of your employee.
Reward Them
We all like to be rewarded if we do
something good. This doesn't necessarily mean they just need
to get a good pay check. Money isn't always the prime
motivator. Public forms of recognition, an email recognizing
their efforts that is sent to all colleagues, provide them with
more responsibility that comes with greater potential reward, or
ask them for their input on key situations.
Provide Feedback
It is said that Feedback is
the breakfast of champions. Too many times we have
expectations of our employees and we fail to communicate them to
our staff. Ken Blanchard talks about not being a 'seagull'
manager where you just go in and dump on people. Once again,
catch people doing great things and praise in public and condemn
in private. Feedback should be provided frequently and
informally. Even a 3-5 minute conversation can help an employee
grow and develop. While it is important to have annual reviews
where you sit down for an hour or so and provide structured
feedback to your employees, on-going spontaneous feedback is
vital for the success of your team also. In Jack Welsh's book
'Winning' he talks about great leaders provide candid
feedback on an on-going basis. Communicate your expectations
clearly, provide them resources to help them get their job done,
and provide feedback on their performance. This helps them grow
and realize their potential. Not easy to do but a must if you
want to build a great organization.
Allow Opportunity
Employees often want to know
there are growth opportunities within the organization. Provide
your team with potential to grow. Whether it be to create
product, expand their role, develop a program, take ownership of
a certain task, or assist you with a specific need, know their
strengths and give them an opportunity to grow. Guide them,
steer them, provide resources for them to succeed, but let them
spread their wings a bit if they deserve it.
Show Appreciation
Out of a recent poll of ten
items on 'What Employees Want', employees responded with
'full appreciation of work done' at #2 ('Interesting
Work' was voted #1 by employees). Ways to show appreciation
are often 'easy' to do but owners/managers often neglect it.
A simple 'thank you' or verbal recognition for going above
and beyond are powerful. A hand written thank you card is
powerful. A gift certificate is a great idea. A birthday card on
their special day is a nice touch that you remembered their day.
It doesn't have to be big but a simple sign of appreciation
goes a long way in making your employee an integral part of the
team.
Be a Great Listener
All of us are extremely busy.
That doesn't buy us the excuse that we are too busy to deal
with our staff. There is nothing more important than listening
to your own people. They often know the pulse of an organization
better than the manager/owner but we often don't give them the
time to talk. A great leader listens to his people and makes
decisions based on their recommendations. Our people want to
feel like they have 'a voice' in the organization. Listen to
your people and be open, honest, and compassionate.
Celebrate Success
If your team wins, celebrate.
If you had a great quarter, great year, or got word of a
fantastic accomplishment, celebrate with your team. All people
like a celebration. Ideas can be something as simple as having
lunch catered in or extravagant as a weekend retreat away for
your team. Celebrations boost spirit and energy and often do
wonders to ignite the energy of your group.
Provide Team-Building Events
Time away from the
office are often great ways for your employees and even families
to connect and help camaraderie. Examples may include team
softball game, beach day, attend a conference together, bring in
a motivational speaker to facilitate a day of 'personal
development', or volunteer your time to a needy organization
one day.
Provide 'Personal Development'
Closely connected to the above statement, our employees love to have
'coaching' facilitated to them. I love to take my staff
through different exercises to help them grow personally. Last
year, I had a 'Growth 2007' program that was based on
meetings every 3 months to facilitate an individual's personal
growth. This year we have had our 'Transformation 2008'
program based on personal transformation. These programs are
powerful to do as our own staff takes time to strategize their
own life. 'Blue Sky Time' to work on your business and your
life is critical for all people and I have found these few hour
programs are awesome for providing employees clarity in the
direction in which they are moving.
Be a Great Leader
The art of leadership is
critical for the success of an organization. Great leaders
provide energy, motivation, vision, feedback, communication,
teaching, mentoring, and lead by example. Read books on
leadership and management and constantly spend time investing in
your leadership skills. Behind every great team, there is
typically a great leader and great individuals. It is the time
spent to meld and grow your team behind a common mission and
vision that creates a special environment in which to thrive.
All of these points are ways in which we can build a winning
team. It takes a lot of time and energy to lead an organization.
It seems like we are often just putting out fires or waiting for
the next fire to occur. My encouragement to you is that you take
'ownership' of being a great leader and invest the time in
doing the things necessary to keep your team growing in the
right direction. There is nothing more valuable than your team.
Invest in them and everyone will reap the benefits.
ACTION STEP: Determine what you can do this week to be a
better leader. Choose 2 or 3 items and decide what steps you are
going to commit to this week to help build up your team. Be
aware of the energy and environment when you implement these few
things.
About the Author:
Todd Durkin, MA, CSCS, is the 2 Time Personal Trainer of the
Year and trains dozens of high-profile athletes and celebrities.
He owns and operates Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA. He
conducts motivational programs, team-building events, and
presents at conferences and workshops worldwide. He has produced
16 DVD's and is currently writing his first book. You can sign
up for his monthly informational, motivational 'TD Times'
newsletter.
