DO YOU HAVE AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS TEAM?
Written by:
Wendy Buckingham
Article Overview: Business is all about team. From suppliers, to consultants, family and even customers - you need to have them all operating to create your winning team. Read on to see how to create and maintain an effective business team.
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Free Download - Email response. What's your policy? By Wendy Buckingham
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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.
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About the Author: Wendy Buckingham
RSS for Wendy's articles - Visit Wendy's website
I love speaking, writing and coaching and my speciality is the finer distinctions of planning and achieving goals or simply having life the way you want. I'm also known for fun and interactive workshops on networking.
Working with my clients (and myself) I discovered that guiding people and to set powerful authentic goals, whether career, business or personal, is just the beginning. It is helping them to identify and handle the "stuff" or obstacles, blocking their path, that is the real key to success.
In 2001 I wrote my internationally published goal planning and life-skills handbook Ready Set Goal! This has now become a series to
include real estate investment and relationships.
I bring to my aud
iences the benefit of a life rich in experience, learning and transformation. My background includes journalism, broadcasting, small business ownership, coaching and training.
"Overall you have achieved outstanding feedback for your presentation you were one of the three mostly highly praised speakers at the conference." Aaron Gay, General Manager, IIR Pty
Click here to visit Wendy's website

More from Wendy Buckingham
DO YOU HAVE AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS TEAM
Email response Whats your policy
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Re: Welcome New Moderators in Addition to Our Fine Team!
- Thank you Ringo and Thank you to "THE TEAM" . . . . Thank you all for the warm reception!!!
I am honored and I appreciate this opportunity very much. Congratulations to the other "new" Moderators.I am looking forward to "meeting" you all.
I am a Brooklyn Boy and somtimes I trip over my Brooklyn upbringing.
My Assertiveness and enthusiasm sometimes gets the best of me. If you ever feel I went to far (with anything) please feel free to let me have.
I am a great "Beginner" and I learn fast. I'll take whatever you want to throw at me . . .GOOD OR BAD. I welcome the help and guidance. I need the help and guidance.
I have over 30 years of experience starting and building large apparel manufacturing companies.My world is your world. Just ask. I want to Make a differnce . . . . .
I have one objective : AS A TEAM, I WANT TO GROW OUR FORUM.
With leaders like Evan and Ringo,our very special (current) moderators and the incredible members we have now, it should be a slam dunk to be able to achieve new levels of growth.
Best wishes,
Barry
Single mother business
- Hi Evan,
Every problem can be solved. Check these four 'T' points:
1. THINK that you are important. Therefore one can do anything one
sets her mind to. This can be applied to many different types of
businesses. Perhaps she has set her mind on a specific market.
With the help of the internet one can explore avenues of possible
area to fill the need.
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mistake. You know your strength and weaknesses. Concentrate on
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3. TEAM-UP with somebody. Perhaps a friend, who has some experience
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These can be a great strength.
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4. TIME for your children. When you have a routine set up, you can plan
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Re: SEEKING PRIVATE OR ANGEL INVESTOR
- Definitely have a thorough and accurate business plan. In the US, you can get help at SCORE - their website is full of great information and you can check for local chapters.
If you would like a book that has all kinds of great information about financing options - this one is very good ---
HOW TO GET THE FINANCING FOR YOUR NEW SMALL BUSINESS: INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FROM THE EXPERTS WHO DO IT EVERY DAY—WITH CD-ROM
This new book will provide you with a road map to securing the financing. The book goes into traditional financing methods and assists the reader in setting up proper financial statements and a proper business plan. It details the differences between debt and equity financing and how and why to use each. Valuation techniques are explained for determining what your business is truly worth. However, the book’s real strength is in explaining alternative and creative methods of financing, such as SBA financing, investor angels, IPOs, limited public offerings and venture capital. Essential resources for finding the detailed information you need are included throughout.
Item # 9780910627559 $39.95
Shri
Re: I want to make money online
- First, I'd say definitely online. Your $3,000 will go a lot further online than offline.
Second, I'd read Kevin's list and the linked article and make a BUSINESS decision what you want to do, what you can offer and who you can sell it to. Do some serious keyword search and find a hungry niche, and this is your start (free).
Second step (free): Sign up for clickbank, paydotcom or some other affiliate exchange and find suitable products to promote.
Third step (free): Get a free site somewhere, but make sure it's on something that looks like its own domain - yourname.wordpress.com or yourname.blogspot.com or some such. Write some nice things that promote your affiliate products and put your affiliate links on the page.
Fourth step (free): Go on article directories like evancarmiahcel.com (if appropriate) or ezinearticles.com and write stuff that is interesting for your niche, using your niche keywords. Put a link to your new site in the resource box/bio.
Keep doing this until you make money. My kids (18 and 12 at the time) sold stuff on clickbank. Anyone can do this.
Good luck!
Are you Self Employed or a Business Woman?
- Us women are especially vulnerable to thinking we can do EVERYTHING ourselves! I'm not immune to this way of thinking either. (It seems to go with the territory of having XX chromosomes and growing up in our North American culture.)
Anyhow, this kind of thinking can actually trip us women up when it comes to business.
I've heard it said that a true business is something you create that can eventually run by itself. A business is meant to give us freedom and not tie us down.
A business works FOR YOU. If you are the one working FOR YOUR BUSINESS, then I invite you to open up to the possibility of using your entrepreneur skills to recreate a business that works for you.
When I was first challenged on this concept, it was a huge AHA moment. I am grateful because I realized I was still a little stuck on working harder instead of working smarter. I've opened up to a whole new world of possibility and now I'm thinking MUCH BIGGER than before. I expect my income will be much bigger as well.
In all honesty, I've realized that my coaching business has been a glorified job. I will still do coaching because I love to do it, but now I am in the process of developing multiple streams of income that use my time more efficiently and products that sell even while I'm on holidays.
I'm also developing a retail store which will eventually mostly run itself. Then I will move on to my next project. It's liberating to be on the path of creating businesses that work FOR me. This is how I can run multiple companies without wearing out! In fact, I plan on having MORE time for me.
So, what are you doing? Are you self employed or running a business?
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