Building a successful business team is key to achieving long-term success. As someone who has been in the real estate brokerage business for over two decades, I can attest to the importance of having a great team. However, for those who are new to team building, it can feel overwhelming. Here are some steps that have helped me along the way:
1. Create a business plan: Before bringing on new team members, it’s essential to establish goals for your business and determine what type of team you need to achieve those goals. Making an organizational chart can be helpful in identifying roles and responsibilities.
2. Develop detailed job descriptions: Be specific about the tasks that each role entails, and avoid making the position seem more glamorous than it is.
3. Start with an intern: Posting a job description on local university job boards can help you find college students who are willing to work part-time during the school year.
4. Hire an executive assistant: If you’re having trouble finding a full-time person, there are virtual assistants available.
5. Look online and in person: LinkedIn is an excellent resource for finding job candidates, but you can also encourage referrals from friends and business contacts, post job descriptions on social media accounts, and attend industry events to make local connections.
6. Find the right people: Focus on getting the right people in the right roles. At my first company, we found that captains of sports teams were often great team players.
7. Check references: Past performance is a good indicator of future behavior, so take the time to check references before making a hiring decision.
8. Remember it will get easier: Hiring your first employee can be challenging, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
9. Form standard operating procedures: Having a checklist of key tasks can help with accountability and make it easier to train new team members.
10. Meet regularly in person: Regular team meetings can keep everyone informed and help new team members learn.
11. Carry out 360 reviews: Regular surveys of team members’ performance can help identify strengths and areas for improvement.
12. Lead by example: By showing your team members what it takes to be successful, you set the tone for the entire team.
13. Have fun as a group: Regular outings and team-building events can help build camaraderie and make work feel less stressful.
Overall, building a great business team takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it. By focusing on relationships and finding the right people for the right roles, you’ll be on your way to achieving long-term success.
