Talenttalks - Practical steps to develop a successful team

It all started with a brilliant idea that you knew you could build a business on. Your entrepreneurial spirit kicks in and you are all fired up to turn your idea into a profitable business. Small businesses can create more leadership challenges as leaders take on multiple functions and roles -marketing, sales, product development, innovation, admin, finances, human resources etc, i.e. a ‘Jack of ALL trades’ – hoping to be the masters of many as you build your business from the ground up.

It is not easy being a small business owner. 90 hours or more workweeks, high stress and the lack of capital and resources are often the rule, not the exception. This puts an enormous strain on business owners and takes a toll on them in many ways. A recent survey found that ¾ of the owners surveyed had some sort of physical symptoms as a result of work stress.

Your business will never outperform your leadership skills. If you want your business to do well, then you need to lead it well!

Too often we think of leadership as a position for a chosen few, those who have lots of followers and credentials to match. Not so. If you are running your own business, you are a leader. The question is, how well are you leading? Research has shown us time and time again that each of us is capable of being a great leader! It comes down to authenticity, clarity of vision, how well we communicate the vision to build cohesive teams and empower others.

The most effective leaders know that leadership is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. They adapt their style & approach to fit each unique person and situation, maintain laser-focused vision, while bringing the team along. Once you are aware of your role as a leader in the development of a cohesive, strong team you will see a transformation take place even with the smallest changes.

Here are a few steps to ensure that you and your team are off to a great start:

Have a clear VISION
Be clear about why you exist, and the result you wish to achieve. Then make sure everyone and all outputs are aligned to this vision. If you are not clear, no one else in your team will be clear about their role, creating misalignment and confusion. Having a clear structure in place to communicate and track the vision can be very useful.
Lead by example
There is no way you can say one thing, do another and expect to build a strong, committed and focused team. Great leadership starts with being authentic. You have to be what you expect from your team. If you want an open, honest, trusting and engaged team, then you have to role model it.
Building relationships
Communication is a two-way street. While it is important to communicate or share your vision, purpose and goals of the business, it is also worth listening…really listening to your customers and team members alike. They may have valuable insight or knowledge that you may not have had the line of sight of. We are all aware of the importance of building relationships when it comes to marketing and sales. It is equally important when it comes to our employees as they are the greatest assets your business have. When employees feel appreciated and valued, their contribution is likely to increase.
Empower others for success
A successful leader builds the skills of the team. Listening, asking more questions and supporting their growth and development shows you care and this has a direct link to engagement. A more engaged team supports performance. By delegating and contributing to the professional development of your team, you can free up your time to focus on the strategy of your business. A win-win situation!
Take deliberate action
Success lies in the implementation, and culture is what we practice. Start with creating small deliberate and effective actions. The quicker we implement an action, the sooner we see the changes we desire. Actions that we consistently put into practice will then become the culture of the business. Winning actions will deliver a winning culture.

Leadership is a dynamic process and it takes time to learn how to lead well. We can always grow and improve our leadership skills. It is a journey and begins with the first step. It is up to you to develop leadership skills and should be an important aspect of your business strategy.