Blog
Written by Self-Employment Business Coach, Shane McNulty
Building a Strong Foundation for Small Business Success
Smaller teams can feel the negative impact of disconnection more acutely, making it even more crucial to foster a strong sense of collaboration among employees. When your team members can work together seamlessly, daily operations can run efficiently, and unexpected issues can be resolved with ease.
MTC Australia business coach Shane McNulty explains that teamwork is what propels a small business forward.
“Without teamwork and a strong sense of common purpose small businesses end up struggling to achieve their maximum potential as individuals in the team are often working in slightly different directions or different ways not understanding the overall goals of the business.”
Here are five practical steps from Shane for taking your team to the next level:
1. Create a clear and shared vision –
A business’s vision and its goals must be clearly articulated and understood by all staff members. A shared vision unifies the team and provides a sense of purpose. As a first step, decide on the three all four key goals that you want your team to achieve.
2. Develop well-defined position descriptions –
Each team member should have a well-written position description outlining their objectives, accountability, and how their role contributes to the overall success of the business.
3. Communicate the business values and expected behaviours –
documented values should be established for the business, along with expected behaviours that all team members should follow to achieve the vision and goals of your business.
4. Foster a culture of regular and open communication –
This is an essential step following the creation of a clear vision and goals. Regular team meetings and individual check-ins will keep everyone aligned with the shared vision and goals of your business. Open and honest communication is key in this process too. When employees are able and welcome to flag issues or concerns early on, your teams can be well-positioned to find creative solutions together.
5. Offer regular feedback and meaningful support –
When team members are not meeting goals or supporting the business’s vision, constructive feedback is necessary. This feedback provides staff members with an opportunity to adapt and improve their behaviour to align with the team’s objectives.
The key benefits to you as a small business owner
- A more productive team: Teamwork enhances productivity, as collaboration often leads to innovative solutions and efficient processes.
- Collaborative meetings: Team members working together harmoniously result in more productive and meaningful meetings.
- Reduced conflict and politics: Effective teamwork minimises workplace conflicts and reduces time wasted on office politics and arguments.
- Improved trust and transparency: Teamwork fosters trust among employees and encourages transparency in the workplace.
- Competitive advantage: A well-functioning team gives your small business a competitive edge, enabling it to adapt to changes and challenges swiftly.
- Reduced staff turnover: When employees are part of a strong and collaborative team, they are more likely to stay with the company, reducing turnover costs.