A team that lasts is a great team and a great team is built by a great leader. Nothing is more frustrating for a leader than to have constant turnover among his or her team. Constant turnover makes it difficult to develop a smooth working team because the leader or manager is always having to hire and train new team members. Constant turnover also takes a toll on the other team members. An essential component of developing a strong team is having team members who get along well and have a good rapport with one another and this can’t happen if the staff is constantly changing. So how do you develop a staff that stays together and will go the distance?
Here are some tips:
Know your Team Members
I don’t mean to simply know their names, but to KNOW them on a personal level. Know what is important to them and their families, and know what their goals are. As their leader, taking the time to get to know them builds trust and confidence resulting in a team that is loyal and thriving.
Define and Assign Roles
One of the major benefits of developing a knowledgeable staff is that it guides you in placing them in roles that are suited to them. Knowing their strengths and placing them in roles where those strengths can be further developed will ensure their success.
Promote from Within
The hope of career progression is a win-win for the company and the employee. When employees see that there is a chance for advancement they are far less likely to look for new opportunities outside the company. When possible, it makes much more sense to promote someone who already has a working knowledge of the organization than to hire from the outside.
Communicate Effectively
Open communication rather than a top-down style is much more effective and communicates to your employees that their opinion and ideas are valuable.
Celebrate Together
Celebrate victories as a team, celebrate birthdays as a team, and do things that will further develop team rapport. These go a long way in building a team of happy satisfied employees who don’t feel the need to leave their current job in hopes of finding something better.
These make for a leader that everyone wants to follow and builds a happy and satisfied team that goes the distance.
