“I hire people brighter than me and I get out of their way.” – Lee Iacocca
In order for your business to grow, it’s no secret that you have to build a team. What most business owners struggle with is building a team that they can trust to get the job done.
It’s hard to put your ‘baby’ in the hands of someone else. But if you want to build a team of high-performers that lets you work on your business and not in your business, then it’s necessary to create some trust.
Start by hiring people based on your weaknesses.
Are you comfortable hiring people who know more than you? One of the best ways to invest in your business is to hire people who are experts in areas you aren’t.
Your team should complement your skillset to help mitigate your blind spots. This requires checking your ego at the door. Now that you’re the business owner or leader, it’s your job to inspire and support your team, not be involved in every detail.
- Do look for people that share your company’s values.
- Do treat people with decency.
- Do focus on building real relationships with your employees.
Remember, you serve the people, they don’t serve you.
Trusting the advice of your team is important!
Your team is, or should be, more acquainted with the problems in your business. They are strong in the areas that you are weak. When someone on your team comes to you with an idea or a solution, it’s important to really listen and seek to understand. Trust in their expertise. Even if their idea fails, have faith that they were making the best decision based on what they knew in the moment.
Encourage a growth mindset in your employees. They are never done growing.
One of the most effective ways to encourage a growth mindset in your employees is to lead by example. Growing and getting better is a pursuit of every great leader. If you aren’t investing in yourself, how can you expect your employees to do the same?
Your relationship with your team and with yourself is always growing and developing. Keep making the time to invest in both. This means continuing your education, reading, mentoring, etc. Make the time to understand your people first. Know what is important to them.
Maturity is more important than book knowledge.
Being a mature leader means understanding that the individual person is more important than your project or business in the long run. Your people will make or break your business. Regardless of the type of your business, your employees are the frontline. Treat them with decency. Respect their decision whether they decide to bring their best self or not.
As the leader, you come last. Focus first on your mission, second on your people and then on yourself. Your great ideas and opinions can wait.
What’s one step you can take to invest in building trust within your team?
