To download a transcription of this episode click here.
The topic I would like to talk about today is something every business can relate to, especially during the holiday season. Energies are high and end-of-year goals to be met can cause businesses to struggle with keeping their entire team focused and on track. It’s just one of the obstacles we as managers face and we can either let it get to us or we can learn to be better from it.
People tend to think managing people is simply telling them what to do and giving orders. In reality, managers are there to hold a space for their employees to rise up and come into their full potential, and also being there to pick up the pieces if (and when) they fall. Failure is inevitable, and being a manager is being able to accept these failures and learn from them to turn them back into success. The first step to accepting these defeats are to first accept our responsibilities as leaders. If we cannot admit our own mistakes and work on fixing them rather than jumping right to excuses as to why something happened or couldn’t happen, we cannot expect our team to either.
There are 4 steps that need to be taken when getting your team coordinated:
- Make sure your team is being heard. This goes beyond simply listening to a complaint and immediately conjuring up a response as to how this can be “fixed” or why it cannot. Really listen to what people are saying to you; the emotion behind it and where they are coming from before jumping to a conclusion.
- Involve each team member. Nothing shuts down communication more than people feeling like they are out of the loop. Doling out individual responsibilities for projects and giving them the ability to share their thoughts or ideas will really give each person a sense that they are involved and are aware of what is going on.
- Allow room for growth. People thrive on new experiences or simply a chance to better themselves. Whether it be taking a course or working with a mentor, the chance to learn and improve their craft will only move them, and your business, forward.
- Define their purpose. When we as leaders are clear on our vision for success and how each individual role in the business is a vital piece to the puzzle, we are giving purpose and worth to each member of our team. Demonstrate that without their inclusion, none of this would be possible.
There’s an activity that I like to use quite often, with my own team and with those I am working with, that can really help to bring your team together. I start out by gathering the team together with a big sheet of paper to write on and asking each member three questions individually.
The first: What is most important to you? When written out, this benefits the team by showing how most of the answers you come up with are going to be similar and that you are already on the same page with the people around you.
Once these values are written out for each person, I then have them write one thing about each other member that they think they bring to the team. What special assets do they have or what sets them apart? Helping others realize their strengths will build confidence and better work relationships.
Lastly, ask each person to list their accomplishments for the year, both for themselves and each other team member. Instead of focusing on what couldn’t get done, you now have a big list of positive, reinforcing stuff written all over to get you and your team in the right mindset to keep moving forward.
If you enjoyed this episode and in some way, it inspired you to start taking action, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Send me a DM on Instagram @theresacantley and let me know what your favorite part was.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://theresacantley.com/itunes
If there is a topic you would love me to talk about or a question you may have, send it to us at theresa@theresacantley.com and we’ll feature it on one of our future episodes.
LINKS:
Episode 41 – The BIGGEST lessons I’ve learned about why working longer hours doesn’t work.
Episode 40 – The BEST thing you need to have to help you grow your business.
Schedule a call with me – Click Here!
Connect with me on Instagram & Facebook!
Join me for Theresa Cantley’s Business Growth Formula – Click Here!
