Owning your own small business is a monumental accomplishment. But all your hard work can fall apart in an instant if your workforce does not work well together as a team. It can be difficult to get people with different outlooks, goals and personalities to work together, but it is essential for your business to grow and succeed. Keep reading to learn about what you need to know about workforce solutions when you own your own business.
Build a Strong Team from the Outset
As the business owner, you are the leader of the team. Your first task is to assemble a team whose members are able to work together. As you hire people, seek out individuals who have lots of energy and are willing to work as part of a team. People who prefer to work alone or are not good communicators likely will not be a good fit for you. It is best to move on and seek out people who have skill sets and backgrounds that will better facilitate closer working relationships.
Be Proactive About Identifying and Dissolving Disputes
There is no question that when more than one person is working on a project, there are going to be differences of opinion that can turn into disputes or arguments. The best way to resolve these issues is to be proactive and address them before they escalate. As the leader of the team, it is crucial for you to be able to recognize the signs that indicate something may be amiss. If you notice an impending conflict between any of your workers, find a way to settle it before it gets out of hand. Then, everyone should move on and get back to work. When you take a proactive attitude toward conflict resolution, you will find that fewer conflicts occur in the first place.
Maintain Accountability
Even the best and most cohesive teams are comprised of individuals who often think and act differently. If you notice one of your team members slacking off or otherwise negatively affecting the progress of the entire team, then make that person accountable for those actions. You do not have to turn the incident into a huge issue but nip it in the bud before it becomes a larger problem.
Create a Positive Atmosphere
As the owner of the company and team leader, your employees will look to you for leadership. You will set the tone for the entire organization. Do whatever you can to cultivate a positive atmosphere every day. The more positive you are, the happier and more productive your team will be.
Encourage Group Participation
Schedule meetings for the entire group. They present the perfect opportunity for all members to talk to each other and to makes sure everyone brings something to the table. Create and foster an atmosphere where people respect each other and welcome new ideas. The more you talk to each other and exchange ideas, the closer your team will become. Consider creating a more open office atmosphere that encourages communication throughout the workday.
Set Goals as a Team
Since every member of your team is affected by goals that are set, everyone should be a part of setting the goals. When the company’s goals are aligned through all of the departments, members are forced to communicate and can collaborate with each other to achieve them.
Reward the Entire Team
Rewarding your entire team can go a long way to effectively building a team. When you reach a goal, rather than giving out individual rewards or bonuses, thank every member of the team individually and make a point of mentioning the efforts each team member made in helping to achieve the goal. You can even get the entire team to enjoy a reward together, like taking everyone out to lunch. Approaching rewards in this matter facilitates conversation and ensures no one’s contribution is overlooked.
Welcome the Opinions of the “Minority”
It is easy to be accepting of opinions when a majority of the team is on board. It is a bit more difficult to welcome less popular views. However, it is essential that you give equal time to less popular ideas when they come up. Listening to all opinions, ideas and concerns helps the whole group and the company as a whole. It creates an atmosphere of trust where everyone feels worthwhile and appreciated. It also gives you and the other team members the opportunity to hear a perspective that might not have otherwise been considered. It can even steer the entire group down a new and successful path.
Creating a top-notch team to help your small business thrive takes hard work, but it is worth the effort. Once you have your team members in place, working with them in a positive way and fostering a culture that is based on teamwork and collaboration can help you create a business to which employees will be dedicated.
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