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Six Tips for Building an Entrepreneurial Team

Surrounding yourself with the best team may be the best decision for your entrepreneurial journey.

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Updated:

February 2, 2023

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Building a team will assist in ensuring successful entrepreneurship. You may be just beginning or have been in business for many years, but if you take the time to surround yourself or your business with the right people you may have the roadmap for success. If you are an entrepreneur, it is almost vital to the success of your start-up business or idea to put a supportive and innovative team behind you. Putting in place a versatile, creative and cohesive team will ensure that you have the support and skill sets needed to expand the idea and the business.

There are many similarities between putting a team together from existing employees and hiring new people to plan and start a new enterprise or business opportunity. Choosing the right personalities with similar work ethics will serve your business well.

Creating a solid team on first thought, doesn't seem like too challenging of a task. Often, we think if we put a group of like-minded individuals together with a get-the-job done attitude we will have success. However, forming a team doesn't guarantee performance and old-school team management can send your team or your idea down a path of failure. So, how does one create an innovative, cohesive group of co-workers-these six tips can help make your job a bit easier.

Keep it small. Choose a few members with diverse skill sets who are open-minded enough that they will listen to opposing views. Using this structure allows team members to work together closely and to really get to know one another. The team needs to be cohesive and embrace the team concept. They should want to spend time working together and can edit each other's ideas without being offensive but for the good of forwarding the task.
Set measurable goals. As a leader, you will want to set clear and measurable goals to help the team stay focused and to hold people accountable for their performance. Holding people accountable keeps teams on track, increases morale and assures your credibility with your team while building loyalty.
Ask or demand self-sufficiency. It may be difficult to do but, always hire independent thinking people. You want people who can see more than the task in front of them and can see the "what if" of a decision. The team should be tasked with an assignment and then allowed to develop methods, use resources and manage time on their own accord.
Remain flexible. Teams that have flexibility and freedom to experiment and try new ideas before creating the final product or recommendation will likely be successful because they are working with less constraints. One statement that should not be made is, "we have always done it this way." The team needs to have the ability to refine and enhance each trial run.
Depend on your network. Finding the perfect teammate isn't always easy. Networking is a time-honored way to find new hires. Let your professional and personal networks know what kind of person you're looking for. Then arrange one-on-one introductions, schedule a meeting to gauge team compatibility, and take the candidate to lunch with current team members to test the chemistry. (Robbins, 2006)
Interview for trust. Assigning tasks to new hires can be a challenge. It can feel that you clearly state expectations and instructions, but are you able to let go and trust your new teammate? The answer is YES! You must be able to trust your teammates and allow them to navigate the job to the best of their ability. Some topics to consider.

Make sure your candidate really knows the job and expectations
Interview for chemistry
Talk to people from your candidate's former company
Create an open and trusting team where all ideas have merit
Create mentor-mentee relationships throughout your business or company

Being an entrepreneur can be challenging but the best way to reach success is to put together a strong, viable, creative team that has a diverse set of skills and strengths that can enhance your business. Keep it small, self-sufficient, flexible, cohesive, and trustworthy.