At the heart of every growing business is a great team, giving it a ground to stand on and keeping it running smoothly day after day. Building the perfect business team can be tricky; fortunately, there are a few tips that will help you form a strong team that can make your business flourish.
Make a Comprehensive Plan
Sit down in a quiet place with a pencil and paper and prepare to do some serious thinking. Ask yourself what qualities you are looking for in your team members. Make a list of interview questions. Advertise each position separately, carefully detailing the different tasks, the requirements to quality, and the benefits of working for your business. Establish a budget and stick to it, and set a realistic timeline for the interview and hiring process.
Consider Remote Employees
Just because the perfect candidate happens to live hundreds of miles away doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. Certain jobs can be done just as well if not better from the comfort of one’s own home. For example, do you really need an on-location receptionist, or would a Virtual Receptionist be able to serve your team better? Many employees can work more efficiently when they have the freedom and flexibility to rearrange their own schedules and you’ll save on overhead costs by hiring remotely.
Consider Outsourcing Rotating Freelancers
New faces and fresh ideas can be a great boost for a business team, and a compatible freelancer might add an interesting and profitable dynamic to the workplace. Also, if your business has a service that it provides on an infrequent basis, you may find it beneficial to outsource a freelancer on an as-needed basis rather than hiring a full-time employee. Hiring freelancers for the short-term is also a great way to get your feet wet and see whether you’re able to manage the cost and time commitment of a full team of employees.
Keep Your Expectations Real, but Don’t Settle for Less
Before you step into the hiring process, find a sweet spot between high expectations and realistic expectations. A business team is made up of human beings, not super-geniuses and demigods, so don’t pass up an excellent candidate who checks all the boxes just because you’re holding out hope that someone twice as extraordinary will clamor for the position somewhere down the road; but at the same time, don’t settle for somebody whom you feel doesn’t suit the position just because you’re afraid no one better will come along.
Use the Interview to Set a Precedent
First impressions can go a long way in influencing how well you and your team will work together. The interview process is a chance to set a precedent of trust, respect, and openness. Don’t be secretive about anything. Holding back information is a red flag, a sign that you won’t be open with your employees in the future. Explain the role of the position, salary, work hours, and what the workplace is like. Pay attention to the way the interviewee responds and encourage them to ask questions.
Encourage Honest Communication
Poor communication is never a good basis for any relationship. Encourage your team members to communicate freely and work out their differences and disagreements in a safe, respectful, judgment-free atmosphere. Keeping problems back can quickly create hostility and tension between teammates, which can completely obliterate a business team.
Celebrate Strengths and Acknowledge Weaknesses
Every employee brings their own strengths and weaknesses to the table, but a good team should be able to balance each other out. Don’t treat mistakes as the last straw, but don’t brush them under the rug either. Encourage your team members to use failure as a learning experience, and to support one another with their individual talents.
Recognize What a Good Team Looks Like
One of the key points to building a strong, close-knit business team is understanding what it is that makes a team great in the first place. A solid work ethic, sound communication, a good leader, and complementary skills are just a few of the things which create a productive workplace. Once you understand what it is that makes your team shine, you’ll be able to help them and your business grow to their full potential.
The first step to creating a great business team is being a strong leader. Encourage your teammates to reach their full potential; working together, you and your team can strive to make your business the best it can be.