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How to Build a Successful Team

By Ken Freeman

With so much information and so many struggles in this economy, it’s very difficult to determine what information is most important to a business owner…is it marketing information, financial considerations, expense control, health insurance or leadership?

It is my belief that whatever our needs are, we cannot ever accomplish our goals alone—that we need a team.  So please take each of these points and list what you are doing in each area and even more important, list what you need to do.

Building a Successful Team:

1.  Be willing to share, to encourage, and to let go (let others be responsible and accountable.

2. Goals--- know what you want and let your team help create them.  State them clearly,

 Get group buy-in, have specific goals and specific dates of accomplishment. 

 SMART Goals are:
(1)  Specific
(2)  Measurable
(3)  Achievable
(4)  Realistic
(5)  with Timelines

1.  Identify obstacles in advance.  Be realistic in your challenges. How will the competition react? What issues will the team have?

2. Establish simple, but complete roles.  Let your team know what their role is and allow them to do their work, expect results, allow differences and encourage cooperation

3.  Have an action plan—a well defined, but flexible plan provides the stability to perform.  This is necessary in all businesses no matter how large or how small.

4. Rewards.  This scares most business owners as they always see big dollars and some expensive program.  Nothing is more important than a thank you, a high five, a job well done.  I’ve found that a gift certificate for dinner or a day off with the family did more than any financial award or amount.  Communicate why it was given and a congratulations.

5. Communication.  This should be at the top of the list.  Most small business owners think that everyone should know what the owner knows or thinks.  The truth is, if our employees knew this—they would be our competitors.  With job turn over, with all the changes going on, with new technologies, this becomes your #1 challenge to not only do—but to do well!

6. Maintain your honesty and integrity.  In difficult times it seems easier to take the short cut, to do the easy thing--- but it never is.  For centuries, people – when given a choice, always choose to do business and work for people that they can trust.  It is hard to build this reputation but easy to destroy, so be the example and never sway from this concept.

I believe that business ownership is the most exciting thing you can do and I truly believe that it is also one of the most difficult, stressing and frustrating things in life.  Building a team, creating an action plan (updating it constantly) and having a vision followed by many goals is the difference in having your business run your life versus you running your business and enjoying your life.
Bless you business owners.  Over 90% of you have less than 10 employees, most of you shop local, support local events and groups, and create jobs for local citizens. 

Thank you for all you do.

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