A lot of people say to me, “Terry, what’s your secret sauce? What’s your secret to success?”
Every time, I respond with the same thing: “My success is really dependent upon my ability to put a team of people together and encourage, train, teach, motivate, inspire, and hold those folks accountable to a common objective.”
Today, I just want to share some ideas with you about why people make all the difference and ask you some questions about the ones in your life. Maybe take out a piece of paper and work through some of these with me while you read.
No. 1: Do You Have the Right Team in Place?
Do you have the right team in place to help you win? Take the names of everyone that reports to you and rank them from top to bottom. Once you’ve done that, you can begin to identify some of the top traits and skills these folks have.
What this will do is allow you to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your team and teach those at the bottom how to become more like those at the top. In essence, you can upgrade your team with what you already have at your disposal.
No. 2: Are You Actively Interviewing?
When you look at your team, are you always looking for people who can be added into your organization to help it grow? Sometimes, the people at the bottom won’t be able to make it all the way to the top. It’s important to have people in the pipeline so you’re still able to progress.
I myself use three categories to help out with this. Folks are either winning, losing, or somewhere in between. At some point, you’ll have to decide who you want to train and who you want to trade.
It’s sad to let people go, but it’s important not to let your emotions get the best of you. Remember: People are what builds success.
No. 3: How Do You Spend Time With Your Team?
Are you taking the time to coach, inspire, and teach your team? There’s a difference between showing and telling, and as a leader, people will watch what you do more than they listen to what you say.
Don’t be a leader who sits behind a desk and barks orders – get involved with your team on the ground level and climb to the top together.
No. 4: Are You Keeping Them Informed?
Are you hosting frequent meetings to tell your team what they need to know to be successful? And are you creating strong channels of communication so nobody is ever left in the dark?
If you want your team to do a good job, you need to explain exactly how they’re going to do it, show them how you track results and measure success, and help them if they get stuck.
A Final Note
I can’t tell you how much your success depends on your ability to build a team and train and communicate with them properly. Next time, we’ll talk a little more about recognition and accountability, so be sure to tune into next week’s episode of Tuesday with Terry.