What are some of the key challenges entrepreneurs face when building and leading a team?
How important is it for team members to align with the company values and culture? What impact can misalignment have on the overall team energy?
In this episode on the Lean Out Your Business podcast, I dive into the pivotal role of team energy and the impact it has on business success. I emphasize the benefits of creating a high-performing team and how it enables you to step out of the day-to-day and focus on your genius work.
I also discuss how hiring the right individuals for your team is not just a matter of skill, but also about aligning with your business’s vision, values, and culture! Throughout this episode, I share insights into the hiring process, breaking down the key considerations of skill fit, alignment fit, and sustainability fit when vetting candidates. Lastly, I provide actionable steps and tools to ensure that your team not only supports your business but enhances its overall energy and dynamics!
In this episode, you’ll discover:
· Why You Should Be Thinking About the Energy of Your Team
· The Art & Science of Hiring the Right People
· What it Takes to Lead a High-Performing Team
· What to Do If Someone is Bringing Down Team Morale
Tune into Episode 165 of the Lean Out Your Business Podcast or keep reading below.
As entrepreneurs, many of us have faced building and leading a team as both a challenge and a crucial step toward growth. Since the success of your business heavily relies on the energy and dynamics of your team, creating the right team dynamic is essential.
Alignment: Vision, Values, and Culture
While skill set remains a crucial aspect of hiring, equally important is ensuring alignment with your business's vision, values, and culture. Your team members should resonate with the overarching mission and embody the core values that drive your company forward. Misalignment in this aspect can disrupt team energy and cohesion, leading ultimately to issues with productivity and morale.
The Art of Hiring
We know that hiring isn't just about ticking boxes on a skills checklist. It's a blend of finding the right balance between technical know-how and cultural alignment. So, let's break down the key elements that make up the art of hiring: skill fit, alignment fit, and sustainability fit.
Skill Fit:
Of course, skills are important. You need someone who can get the job done. But it's not just about whether they can do the tasks at hand; it's about how well they can do them. Are they capable of hitting the ground running, or will they need extensive training and hand-holding? Assessing skill fit means looking beyond the resume to determine if a candidate has the right blend of expertise and experience to excel in the role.
Alignment Fit:
As I discussed earlier, aligning with your company's vision and values is key for long-term success. A candidate may have all the skills in the world, but if they don't share your passion for the mission or fit into your company culture, they'll likely struggle to thrive. During the hiring process, it's essential to assess how well a candidate's values align with those of your business. Do they embody the same principles and ethos that drive your organization forward? Finding alignment fit ensures that everyone is moving in the same direction toward shared goals.
Sustainability Fit:
It is important to consider that bringing someone onto your team is an investment, both in terms of time and resources. That's why it's crucial to evaluate a candidate's sustainability fit – their commitment to the role and their potential longevity within the organization. Are they in it for the long haul, or are they just looking for a stepping stone to the next opportunity? Assessing sustainability fit means considering factors such as career aspirations, work-life balance preferences, and overall fit within the team dynamic. Finding someone who's not only capable of doing the job but also committed to growing and evolving within the role is key to building a high-performing team.
Evaluating Team Energy
Consider the impact of each team member's energy on the overall dynamics. Do they amplify positivity and productivity, or do they inadvertently detract from team morale? Assessing this aspect during the hiring process helps in curating a cohesive team environment.
What About Challenges?
Building your dream team isn't just about hiring the right people; it's also about managing existing dynamics and addressing any misalignments head-on. Here's how to navigate challenges within your team:
- Initiate Honest Conversations: When you notice a team member who isn't aligned with the desired energy or culture, it's essential to have open and honest conversations. Provide specific feedback about behaviors or attitudes that are affecting team dynamics. Be transparent about the impact these behaviors have on morale and productivity.
- Explore Alignment Avenues: During these conversations, explore avenues for alignment. Help the team member understand the company's vision, values, and culture. Encourage them to reflect on how their actions align with these guiding principles. Offer support and guidance to help them make adjustments.
- Make Tough Decisions: Of course, sometimes despite your best efforts, it's clear that the person is not a good fit. When this happens, you may need to transition or part ways with the team member. While these decisions can be challenging, they are sometimes necessary for sustaining a positive team culture. Remember that your responsibility is to the team as a whole, and taking action is crucial for maintaining cohesion and productivity.
By finding candidates who not only possess the right expertise but also share your values and commitment to the role, you can create a cohesive and resilient team that drives your business forward.
Hiring the right team is just one component of taking yourself and your business to the next level. If you are ready to work through what is holding you back and continue to uplevel, consider joining our Simplify to Scale mentorship program. Implement the strategies, systems, and team that will allow you to shift your focus to what matters most to you. Visit leanoutmethod.com/scale to learn more and start your journey today.
by Crista Grasso
Crista Grasso is the go-to strategic planning expert for leading global businesses and online entrepreneurs when they want to scale. Known as the "Business Optimizer", Crista has the ability to quickly cut through noise and focus on optimizing the core things that will make the biggest impact to scale a business simply and sustainably. She specializes in helping businesses gain clarity on the most important things that will drive maximum value for their clients and maximum profits for their business. She is the creator of the Lean Out Method, 90 Day Lean Out Planner, and host of the Lean Out Your Business Podcast.
