How to build a team to succeed
We all know now that the capability of a company to succeed is mostly on the hands of the team that works in it. Of course a good idea or a good product is always important, but even the best product can be a disaster if the team behind it is not working right. How to build a team to succeed?
Coming up with a team that completely fits the needs of our company and that also works, is not an easy or a fast task, building a team for success is a long-term process that takes a great leadership and a lot of work.
To be that great leader, we have to be able to understand people’s different psychologies, their needs and problematic, to help them engage with the team and the project and get them to give the best of themselves.
As we said before, team building is a long-term process. As a leader, we have to follow up, listen to people, manage their egos and make them all feel appreciated while paying attention to any issues, miscommunication or deficiencies. To master this, we have to be in contact with the reality of our team, know the strengths and the difficulties of each member to help them get better at their roles, and also choose the right person for each project or task.
Build a team to succeed
One of the things that we highly recommend is to clearly define roles and responsibilities. This means that everyone in the team should be very sure about their competences, so if there is any problem, it’s easy to tackle it down and solve it as soon as possible. If the work system in well structured, it is most likely to find us with ugly surprises. That is why it’s important to hire people with the abilities you need for that role, but also the kind of people that is going to work fine with your system and company culture.
Another good advice to bear in mind while we build our team is to make sure we give them the right feedback at the right time. Don’t wait for the last minute to share with your team a worry, a red light or a successful operation. Communication is key and needs to be fluent, open and constant.
Also when it comes to communication, don’t forget to share with the team the company’s goals. When we create a board of goals that engages the whole team, tracking the progress of a specific project is clear, and encourages everyone to make the right decisions to help the team get closer to the final goal. Of course, to create this board of goals and scores is important to have a clear plan in mind and, as we said before, have the roles and responsibilities very clear.
Once a new score is made bringing the team closer to success, don’t forget to first communicate it and second, acknowledge. Your team will deeply appreciate some words of recognition and most importantly, of respect.
Finally, once the goal is achieved, is time to celebrate and reward your team. This not only recognizes their work, but it also motivates them. Your win is their win, and that is one more reason to work harder on the next project.
Finally, don’t feel like you are annoying yourself and others by repeating to your team the list of priorities, words of encouragement or the main goals. It is necessary to keep on hearing it for everybody to remember it. It might end up feeling like a broken record in the office, but even just a joke about how much you repeat yourself about those priorities will help them internalize it.
