Building a Powerful Team That Works for You

Can you run your business all by yourself?  Do you have the time and the expertise to be the marketer, bookkeeper, social media manager, salesperson, and customer service representative? No small business becomes a big one with a single person at the helm. If you haven’t already, you’ll soon find out that it takes a team of experts to scale your efforts and grow your empire.

However, building a fabulous team of professionals can bring its own set of worries and stress. . .

• Who can you trust to handle the finances?
• When will you find the time to train?
• What if you think you just can’t afford to outsource a lot of your business?

These kind of things are exactly what prevent entrepreneurs like you from turning a good business idea into a 6- or even 7-figure empire. Some of you will be completely overwhelmed at all the things that could go wrong, and that prevents you from taking the next step forward. Here are a few ideas to tackle the apprehension and make your next big move.

Know Your Personal Preferences and Work Style

Not everyone works in a similar style. Some people love to touch base by phone, while others prefer email. Some people require lots of direction and step-by-step guidance, and others work better when they can figure it out on their own.

No way is right or wrong, but if you’re a phone person and you hire an email lover, there’s going to be some conflict. Look for team members who are a fit with your preferred work style, and you’ll be much happier with the end result.

Be Committed to Finding the Right People

Hiring a team takes time. Not only do you have to spend time looking for the right person, interviewing candidates, and onboarding your final choice, but you also have to train your new team member.

Remember, no matter how skilled she might be, she’s never worked in your business, so there will be a learning curve. Encourage her to ask questions, and take the time to answer carefully. Expect mistakes—at least in the beginning—and build enough time in your schedule to allow for fixing them. The effort and time you put in up front is well worth it when you have a team you can count on.

Don’t Be Afraid to Make a Move if Things Aren’t Going Well

Not everyone you hire will be a good fit. As a business owner, it’s up to you to do the right thing for your business growth (and your own stress levels), and sometimes that means moving on from a relationship that’s just not working.

Remember, it’s business, not personal. Sometimes even the best-looking applicant turns out to be all wrong, and that’s okay. Take what you’ve learned from the experience, and use that knowledge for the next hire.

Start Off Small

While you might dream of working two hours per day and taking entire summers off, it’s unrealistic to think you can go from 12-hour days to stress free entrepreneurship in a few short weeks.

Start by hiring one person to take on the tasks you most dislike, then slowly grow your team and their responsibilities. Eventually, you’ll be left with only the work you truly want to do (and that you enjoy) and your business will run smoothly and profitably.