How to get the most out of your team

They say teamwork makes the dream work and it absolutely does when the team are working at their best! As someone who’s managed a close-knit team of 12 in a high-pressured environment, I know a thing or two about managing people, personalities,  rotas, training, expectations and what I will call ‘the younger generation’.  If you know, you know!

A great team starts with you.

Followed by your Management Team. 

You need to have a vision and strong company culture, something for your team to buy into. You also need a Manager; someone who ensures the tasks are done, keeps everyone to target and ticks the boxes, this keeps the business moving forward.

A strong manager won’t make your team work at their best, for this you need a leader! Leaders bring inspiration, support and a helping hand! If you have a growing team a leader will be your secret weapon to maximising your team's output! A leader is a people person, you’ll know them because they’re usually called the ‘mum or dad’ in your team. They encourage your team, they ask why, they listen, they motivate, they connect they bring their team with them! 

If you can find a leader who can also manage... hang on to them for dear life because they are like gold dust!! Now you know your management it's time to play into your team's strengths! It’s vital to play to your team's strengths, this is the number one way to get the most out of all your team members.  Instead of getting stressed with their weakness, give them work that plays into their strength. They’ll feel more empowered, they’ll work harder, and be more satisfied and less likely to leave!

Just remember; their strengths need to be able to work towards the business goals!  Understand what drives them! Your company culture starts with you setting the tone of the business!

What kind of atmosphere do you want the team to work in? Are you sticking to company ‘norms’ because it’s what you’ve always known or are you shaping your own culture?

Do you actively listen to your team or do you make assumptions? 

Do you regularly have formal and informal meetings and development reviews? 

Are you & your Management/Leadership Team approachable and open to ideas?

Are you creating an empowered and safe space for your team to grow? Recognise and Reward your team! This is so bloody simple but it’s so easily forgotten about! When was the last time you said thank you to your team for their hard work? I mean individually went up to each employee and thanked them not a half-arsed email....

When it comes to rewards, don’t assume you know what your team want; get them involved and let them choose rewards and then you can set targets to achieve the rewards, if your team feel involved in their future they will perform better for you.

Allow your team to get creative here and keep an open mind, if they’ve got a ludicrous idea...give them a Ludicrous target to warrant it! Match their energy and have fun! Finally, Prioritise your team!

No team = No Business.

I cannot scream this enough, take care of your team and your team will take care of you.  Without them, you don’t have a business, and whilst technically ‘everyone is replaceable’ a team is made up of a group, its synergy, it’s a vibe and that isn’t easily replaceable. I’ve seen businesses collapse with a bad team in place! Find that balance between work and play, create a culture you’d want to work in, listen, support and encourage and you’ll have a team working harder for you than you’ve ever seen before.

A great team starts with you.  If you need support working out the strengths and dynamics of your team, from someone who’s managed teams for over a decade come and have a chat with me about my Consulting Services. Let’s see how I can help you scale your business with ease so it doesn’t feel like you’re talking to a brick wall over and over again!