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Are you doing everything you can to bring out the best in the people involved with your business?
The number one critical success factor for your business is how well you work with and bring the best out of these people:
We strongly encourage you to regularly assess how well, or not, your relationships with each group of people involved with your business are working. In doing this, don’t downplay the critical role you also play in your business’ success.
The purpose of this article, the first of two on this topic, is to provide you with some specific actions you can take to bring out the best in the people involved in your business team with you and your business.
Your Internal Business Team
When it comes to your internal business team (i.e., Owners, Managers, Employees, and Independent Contractors), the most important role you have is to encourage them to perform to their potential and contribute to their and the team’s success. Some effective daily habits for you to use are:
These daily habits will prove a very effective defence against losing team members during times of the “Great Resignation” and “Quiet Quitting” by making them feel valued and working in a team environment where their contribution is appreciated.
The added benefit of working closely and effectively with your team is that you will then be well placed to assess if you have:
- The “right people in the right seats”, not only in terms of the outcomes and results they can and do deliver but also the way in which they go about achieving their SMART goals from a behavioural and values (e.g., working with teammates, customers, suppliers, etc.) perspective.
- Any significant gaps in skills and/or experience that need to be filled.
Your External Business Team
Make sure you include in your evaluation how well you are working with any external professional people providing support to you both in and on your business with advice, coaching, and/or governance.
It is very important for you to avoid the trap of working with them in silos (i.e., focusing only on their area of expertise and involvement) by giving them the entire picture of you and your business to work with.
The second article in this series will provide you with some specific actions you can take to bring out the best in the other people essential to success for you and your business.
“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Māku e kī atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”
What is the most important thing in this world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
Author: Kerry Ludlam, Management Response Limited
