Team Building 101
Posted on October 01, 2014 by Tom Rubens, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
The most important thing you can do while in the embryonic stages of growing your business is define the culture of your company.
Ok….you’ve got the business cards, the small office in what was your dining room, and you’re actually getting some clients. The website is up, and you’ve got some really cool content. Yippeeee!!!!
The work of satisfying your clients is taking 60% of your day, and the work of building your business is taking about 75% of your day. Wait a minute….that doesn’t add up! Welcome to the world of the start-up entrepreneur.
I don’t want to hear any complaining….this is what you signed up for, pal. You didn’t really think everything would just fit together like the pieces of a puzzle, did you? Oh, you did….Bummer.
You need some help….NOW!!! But before you run off and hire the first applicant with a pulse, we need to talk.….Actually, for the next 300 words or so, you listen, I talk. After that, you can give me a call….and talk for a while….and then I’ll ask some questions and let you talk some more…but until you pick up the phone, take a deep breath and listen.
Ground Zero
Moving from self-employed to employer is a huge leap, and you need to be ready for some big changes in your work life and your life’s work. You’re not just bringing in some commodity to be discarded when you get sick of it or the styles change….This is a human being with a life, feelings, and commitments. A human being who is going to work towards goals that you set out….within a culture that you have created.
The chances are excellent that if you are thinking now about hiring one person, you will soon be hiring more. You are taking on some big responsibilities, and everyone’s role must be clearly defined and understood.
Before you put that first post on Craigslist, you need to be able to answer a few fundamental questions:
What is the mission of this business? What is my vision for the future of this company? What is the culture I want to work within?You must be able to communicate these issues clearly to the members of your team. As you grow, they will be communicating these to the new hires….and so on, and so on.
Culture
The most important thing you can do while in the embryonic stages of growing your business is define the culture of your company. You are leading this fledgling bunch, and it is your culture to create and nurture. Your newest teammates need to know what they are signing up for, and you need to be able to convey that clearly and decisively.
Your new hires need to be clear on what is expected of them, and they need to buy in to the culture you have created…..Once there are two or more of you, this culture becomes your bond. It will make each future decision easier, because you will have a compass…your culture…to guide you.
With this precious culture to protect, your hiring process becomes a bit clearer. You are no longer willing to hire out of need. You have a culture! You will only hire someone who shares your passion. The old adage, hire slow and fire fast, is particularly true in the growth stages of a business. Mistakes at this stage can be fatal.
If you are struggling in the early stages of “growth mode,” drop me a line. I’ve been there, done that, and have the tools to help.
