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.