Managing a team composed of 10 or 100 individuals is challenging. Conflicts and clashes can often occur, especially if communication is ineffective, and this can significantly negatively impact your workplace’s productivity. Strong leadership is essential to develop an efficient team to accomplish your short- and long-term business goals.
Here are some steps your small business can take to build a cohesive and productive team:
Automate and optimize processes
Whatever industry your business operates in, invest in the right technology and tools to empower people to work at their optimum efficiency. No matter how niche your business area is, you will be able to find software to support you in automating regular and time-consuming tasks.
Take this unique example of irrigation service software for businesses offering this service to their customers. Find whatever technology is most applicable to you and optimize your internal workflows. By doing so, you can automate less critical tasks and allow your team to spend more time focusing on other, more important assignments.
As a result, each team member won’t have to do menial and repetitive tasks that offer little value or revenue to the business.
Use templated branded documents
Every business, regardless of size, recognizes the importance of template documents that can be repurposed over and over. Jobber, for instance, offers a free downloadable estimate template that can be fully customized and prompts users to complete all required fields so everything is remembered and included. This also helps with consistency and professionalism.
1. Communicate effectively
Effective communication presents a multitude of benefits. For instance, it enables small businesses like yours to achieve a better work environment and become more agile. Teams need to streamline communication to communicate effectively, which involves clarifying each member’s roles and responsibilities. By doing so, each member will know who’s in charge of specific tasks and who to go to when an issue arises.
Additionally, make sure your team is on the same page on how to update projects––whether it’s via email, project management tools, or a messaging platform.
2. Promote a positive working environment.
Now that you know the importance of proper communication, it’s time to focus on your work environment. Did you know that your small business infrastructure and work environment are essential factors in improving team productivity and efficiency? A working environment can dramatically affect how employees feel, perform, and think.
Lots of organizations now follow best practices when it comes to office interior design. This includes ensuring bright lighting, comfortable furniture, and leafy greenery.
In addition to your workplace’s physical setting, it’s equally important to pay attention to the overall environment within the office. Even if you’ve invested in expensive furniture or fixtures, all of these will be futile if there are some toxic employees. The presence of dominating bosses, office politics, and condescending employees will significantly reduce your small business’s productivity and efficiency.
Thus, the moment you hear of any disruption, address it immediately.
Takeaway
Creating a solid and efficient team for your small business can be likened to baking a cake; the right ingredients (team members) need to be carefully selected and combined for them to feel empowered and productive.
What you can do is lay the foundation for a positive environment. As a start, you can apply the four steps mentioned above. By doing so, your small business will see a rise in productivity levels as you’re providing team members with the right software and tools and a conducive working environment.
