DO YOU HAVE AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS TEAM?
"I work on my own, I hear you protest". "I don't have a team". Not so. Look just below the surface and every successful solo operator has a team that makes the difference between winning and losing.
Think about those most solo of lone achievers - yachtsman, Sir Francis Chichester who sailed solo around the world, or Geraldine "Jerri" Mock who became the first woman to fly solo around the world in her single-engine Cessna. And more recently, world champion marathon swimmer Shelley Taylor-Smith.
Whilst they were obviously high and determined achievers, without their "team" of managers, sponsors, technicians, instructors and so on, the journey towards those amazing achievements would not even have got off the ground.
So even for those of us who work on our own, or only have a small business, it is essential to create a team that supports our vision and direction and helps create the power and synergy we need to succeed.
The first step in building a team is to list the resources and skills you need to achieve your business goal. Then check that you have either the ability and time yourself, or the appropriate people to fill in the gaps.
Now, and most importantly, do a check to make sure that those who you consider are on your team are the people you really want to work with.
Let's look at some of the people who might be on your team and what qualities they need to demonstrate to stay there.
Suppliers: Are they on your team when you want things in hurry or something done beyond the usual? Can you rely on them to provide what you need, when you need it and without constant checking and hassling?
Accountant: Does your numbers person appreciate how you operate and understand the stresses of being a solo operator? Is he or she creatively working for you to minimise tax and build your business? Does your accountant have the same picture of your business and where it is going as you have?
Customers: Have you created a team of advocates out of your satisfied customers who, by virtue of their enthusiastic referrals, are a vital part of your marketing team?
Family: Yes, family. Making sure your partner and family are enrolled as part of your business team, can be a key to balance and business success. Does your family understand what you do and what you need from them to make it happen?
Consultants, coaches and the like: Now you'd think they are obviously on your team. However, make sure it's your individual needs they adapt too in their coaching and consulting and are not insistent on following their own agenda or rigid system, regardless.
Often, all that is needed to bring someone really on board your team is a conversation over coffee along these lines:
Start with an appreciation of what they do for you. Then be specific around what you now need and want from them as a member of your team. (This is the time to bring up anything that doesn't work for you). Ask them if they are willing to provide you with what you need to include them in your team. And finally ask them what they need and want from you to enable them to serve you best.
DO YOU HAVE AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS TEAM - To learn more about this author, visit Wendy Buckingham's Website.
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Dianne CramptonDianne Crampton is an executive leadership coach, team consultant, author and president of TIGERS Success Series, Inc. Dianne has been helping CEO's and Executives connect their employees to their core values and goals for over 20 years using the trademarked TIGERS team culture process, which stands for trust, interdependence, genuineness, empathy, risk and success. To download a free white paper on behaviors that build strong teams and behaviors that will predictably tear them down go here. - Visit Dianne Crampton's Website |
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Stephanie RobeyStephanie Robey is President and CoFounder of Pivot Positive, LLC - an Internet marketing business focused on helping people start work at home ventures. Previously, she was employed at The Search Agency with over 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She was responsible for launching the Conversion Path Optimization (CPO) unit where she and her team have conducted hundreds of optimization tests for online companies across multiple verticals. She is a successful entrepreneur having started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com Stephanie began her career in the direct marketing realm creating and producing direct mail for many of the major cable television companies and directly attributes her understanding of Internet marketing to those early offline experiences. Stephanie is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BFA in Graphic Arts and also holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Read Steph's Blog Meet Steph and Dave Sign up for our Free 7-Day BootCamp: Self Employed & Rich - Visit Stephanie Robey's Website |
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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