By Alison Flangel
Owning a small business requires help and cooperation from the people we chose to surround ourselves with … which means the teams we build must be strong ones. Employees should lift you up and contribute positively to your business, which in turn creates a healthy work environment.
How to build a great team for your small business:
- Create and explain your business vision
Before you make the decision to hire employees, it is important to communicate your goals and what you are aiming for within your company. Some components of a vision include: the type of culture you want to build, your future plans, and the environment of customers you hope to cater to. By explaining your vision to potential employees, you will get a sense of which individuals are the right fit for your business. - Define roles clearly
Once you have made the decision on individuals you want to hire as employees, it is essential to determine each person’s strengths and weaknesses. By doing so, roles will naturally be defined. As a small business owner it is important to constantly remind employees of the roles they are assigned to, in order to make sure work is effectively done. If roles are not clearly defined, progress and efficiency will be affected. - Implement team-building exercises into your routine
Small businesses often hinder fast-paced work environments, which means that your team must work fluidly. Team-building exercises can oftentimes help employees bond and get to know eachother better, which equates to becoming more effective in the business setting. Examine your employees to determine what type of bonding exercise would be most beneficial; paintball, go-karting, yoga class, etc… Something low budget such as providing drinks and snacks on a Friday afternoon can also work very well. - Identify problems head-on
As much as problems can be avoided, there is no doubt you will run into issues with employees. In this type of situation, you must carefully address the situation, because oftentimes problems can arise when someone is having crises arise in their personal life. Other times employees just may not be the best fit for your company. Firing someone should be a last resort, although make sure to follow local legislation if you make this decision.