Part of most businesses is having a team. It can be very beneficial to have a well built team and take care of them.
Why have a well put-together team?
Your team is a vital part of your business. Having a well put together team allows your business to learn new ideas as a whole and as individuals since there are likely to be many different individuals working together. Learning one another’s strengths (and weaknesses) can allow employees to blossom in their specialized areas and increase communication throughout all areas. According to a McKinsey report, communication increases productivity by up to 25%. Consistent feedback from team leaders and overall team involvement makes a huge difference. Furthermore, in a research study done by Gallup, companies with a high level of employee engagement are more profitable by 21%.
Navigating Difficult Employees & Team Incentives
Building an amazing team can have its challenges when one struggles with difficult employees. When handling difficult employees, consider the following to approach the situation better. First, always identify the problem and if you can, identify the cause before addressing it to the employee. There may be bigger issues that they may need to resolve out of work or something else. Furthermore, people aren’t always aware of how their behavior impacts the world around them. They may not realize exactly what they’re doing has a negative impact. Next, remember to critique behavior, not people. This isn’t about attacking someone as a person because you are not here to judge them. Remember to always be kind! After this, be open to feedback as the leader. Employees need their boss to actively listen and take into consideration what they’re saying. This doesn’t always mean changing/ doing everything they say but recognizing the issues they feel are important and what you can do to help make them feel more comfortable (if possible.) Finally, make sure to resolve any conflict with very clear expectations/directions and if needed, specific and clear consequences if not followed through correctly.
Although it’s inevitable to have to deal with difficult employees, there are plenty of amazing employees out there as well! Consider different types of incentives to motivate your employees. Having room to grow in a business is a major reason whether employees choose to stay or go. Additionally, in a Forbes study, about 50% of respondents said that flexibility is the most important factor when it comes to job searching. There are other smaller (and fun) ways to incentivize employees as well. If you work in an office, you could do a casual dress day or office parties. In general, you could host parties elsewhere, give gifts, or hand out awards. You could also just consider asking them what they would like to feel valued as well.
Impact of Client Relationships with a Good Team
Team togetherness also has an impact on clients/customers as well. For one, not having a well communicated team means a client can be frustrated when the team doesn’t know what’s going on either. Second, employees holding the same values as you (the boss) makes them more likely to carry them out when you are away. This means doing tasks that benefit customers greatly, leaving good impressions on your business. Third, catering to all your different employees can teach you how to better cater to different clients. Finally, how your employees feel inside your business will reflect outside the business. Social media has a huge presence in the modern world and employees who love their company are more likely to bring it up wherever they go and on their social media. In turn, this brings more attention to your business.
Importance of Good Teams
All in all, having a well- put together team benefits your business in many ways. It allows productivity, profits, creativity, and more to grow!
