When it comes to running a business, many people end up focusing on the leader. However, a leader is only going to be as good as a team. Even if a leader is capable of whipping a team into shape, getting from Point A to Point B can be exceedingly difficult, particularly if the team just isn’t right.
On the other hand, if the team is right, all a leader has to do is point them in the right direction and the rest can be done on their own. Luckily, if you’re looking to build a team that lasts, the following are a few things that you should pay attention to, particularly if you are looking to build a team that lasts.
1. Values that are Shared
When picking a team member, ask them to share their values with you. A person’s values define their morals and in many cases, their whole outlook on life. A person’s experience does not have to play a huge role in defining the kind of person they actually are. Various businesses are looking for candidates who are not only flexible but also showcase a desire to give back to the community in one way or another. Apart from this, candidates who value learning as well as learning from experiences are some of the best ones to have.
2. Look at Their Skill Sets
Apart from their values, take a look at each candidate’s skill sets. It helps a lot if you already have an idea of the skill sets that your current team has and focus on picking a candidate based on what is missing. Certain people can be skilled in visualizing but fail at execution while certain people might not have the vision but they are great at executing that vision. Pick candidates that balance out your team’s negative aspects. This helps pick team members that become invaluable for your team.
3. Candidate Compatibility
Now that you’ve focused on two main areas, you also have to focus on candidate compatibility. The team you’re choosing to put together will be spending a lot of time together, working towards a common goal so it is necessary to ensure that the person you add to the team gets along well the other members. While it’s not important that the candidate is 100% compatible, they should be able to share the vision and final goal of the business.
4. Learning to Listen
When picking a team member, learn to listen. Don’t just do all the talking since you won’t learn more about your candidate this way. Ask questions about the candidate’s previous experiences, goals, aims and more. If you find out what drives them, you can be able to harness that drive to your benefit. Being a good listener enables you to easily process just what your candidates are expecting from you. If you don’t provide them with the perfect setting, team members will jump ship in search of greener pastures. Listen to them, learn from them and give them the perfect setting to produce the results you are looking for.
