This is an age old debate that companies both large and small struggle with on a daily basis. Is it better to have a great idea or a great team to execute the idea? Obviously the ideal situation is to have both. However, if you had to choose one or the other, to me there is no debate; the people are the difference makers in any organization. If you surround yourself with great people, the great ideas will flow like good wine.

Great teams can turn a mediocre idea into a profitable and successful business. A great team can help your company expand and grow beyond your wildest dreams. On the flip side, a great idea, executed by a shoddy team is nothing more than a recipe for failure.

Building a great team is easier said than done and is especially hard and even more important in a startup environment. People are the lifeblood and most valuable asset to any organization, so I’ve compiled a list of the key steps to building and developing your team:

  1. Ensure your employees share one common goal - This goal should in some shape or form be focused on Success. If everyone works toward succeeding at their individual tasks the team should succeed as a whole.
     
  2. Define clear roles and tasks - Make sure each person on the teams knows their role and the task associated with that role.
     
  3. Hire winners and fire losers - Hire fast and fire even faster needs to be your mantra. Realize quickly if you made a bad hire, swallow your pride, fire and move on. You cannot afford to keep a poor performer on staff for long. This person could also be very detrimental to keeping the team dynamic in your organization. Ever heard the saying about the bad apple spoiling the bunch?
     
  4. Treat your people like gold - People are your most valuable asset. Make sure they know and understand that you feel this way about them everyday.
     
  5. Listen, listen, listen, and then listen some more - One of the most frustrating things to an employee is a boss that does not listen. Take the time to hear what your people have to say… you might be surprised!
     
  6. Reward successes - Treat failures as learning experiences and celebrate all successes. Celebrating successes as a group emphasizes the importance of the team dynamic in the organization.

In the end great teams generate and execute great ideas. If you surround yourself with energetic, creative, hardworking individual’s your business will succeed. So build, nourish and develop your dream team and head out there to grab your piece of the proverbial pie!

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