Building an award winning team isn’t easy, recruitment is obviously the first step to get right, but knowing how to encourage your team to work well together is an ongoing process and can take many turns along the way.
Recruiting experienced employees is often as difficult to manage as employing a trainee, and having a clear vision of what/who you need is key…introducing them into your organization is just as important for the new recruit as it is for the existing team.
Understand the strengths of each individual
Understand different personalities within your team…each individual will have different ideas on how to do their job…get to know them and recognise their strengths and work with them regularly to establish any weaknesses and how you can help them improve/develop. Introduce the new team member to whoever is most likely to bring out the best in their new role and adopt the right attitude to work from the get go!
Explain the practice vision
Let them know what they’re aiming for and help them to understand the goals of your practice.
Communicate the culture you want to build within the practice and what role they play…use specific examples. This form of communication may be alien to them, depending on their previous employment experiences.
Talk about any future plans, allowing them to already feel vital in the success.
Use ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ when talking about your business, make them feel at home and a definitive part of the team
Respect their opinions/suggestions and use the experience they may have gained in previous roles.
Get them involved
The quicker they don’t feel like the “newbie”, the better!
Give them responsibility immediately…your confidence in them will provide a sense of appreciation and promote pride in their work
Challenge them, encourage them and set goals.
Acknowledge their successes…. always reward a job well done, especially if initiative is shown
Buddy them up! Team up new employees with someone senior on the team.
Identify problems early
Sometimes people just don’t work out…this might be for both sides…I have found over the last 20 years, often just an honest conversation can establish if the situation can be fixed, nurtured or you both just decide its not going to work out…it doesn’t need to become a battle or not amicable. If you have taken the time to get to know them a little this knowledge can help overcome any niggles or doubts…providing you have successfully established your relationship to begin with.
Understand negative team dynamics
There are other influences that can prevent a team from becoming successful. These include:
Understand the different personalities within your team and recognize any potential clashes…try to prevent and look for ways to head this off from the start.
Discuss with new and existing employees what and how they can ensure a successful transition and how the dynamics of the organization may or may not change as a result.
Lead!
For your team to be successful you must be friendly approachable, and respected within your own role. Demonstrate that you yourself are constantly learning and won’t get everything right 100% of the time, so you don’t expect them to either. Your reaction and responses to various situation will have a direct impact on your organization and team culture and the successful integration of new team members.