Build Your Small Business Dream Team

Something I get asked a lot is how to craft the best team of people to create a perfect working environment. I’ve watched the Office Small Business Academy episode on How to Build Your Dream Team which included guests Les McKeown, best-selling author and CEO of Predictable Success, and Jovana Teodorovic, Head of People and Culture at Rover.com. On the webcast, the contributors discussed the above topic at length – if you are looking to add to staff, or if you’re trying to figure out how to increase workforce productivity from your existing team, watch the Office Small Business Academy webcast hosted by Carol Roth…and make sure to take LOTS of notes!

With some help from tips in the webcast, here’s how I would approach the task of building my dream team and the people I see as the indispensable core:

1. The Visionary – This is usually the founder of the company. They have a 30,000 foot view of the business and industry. They also hate the day-to-day running of the business. At best, they are Winston Churchill; at worst, they are an arsonist looking to burn the business to the ground.
2. The Operator – Hired by the Visionary, the Operator is a hard-charging personality that gets things done. They can be found in the “weeds” of the company dealing with the daily operations.
3. The Processor – They make sure the numbers work. Processors are analytical types who can be cold and aloof, but they are critical to the success of almost any company.
4. The Synergist – They are the glue that binds the rest of the leadership team together. They are always looking out for everyone else. In many companies that are struggling to succeed, the missing link is usually the Synergist.

When hiring your next employee, look for someone who will bring balance to your existing team. The biggest mistake business owners make is trying to hire all superstars. All Operators and no Processors or Synergists means your team is unbalanced; it will be difficult to generate long-term success.

After Carol’s interview with Les, she spoke to Jovana Teodorovic from Rover.com. She gave at least a dozen excellent points on hiring the right people for your team.

Here are five of my favorite tips:

• Interviewing is a learned skill; it requires a lot of training. Don’t have people interviewing candidates for open positions if they don’t know what they are doing.
• Diversity is important in any organization. It gives the company a well-rounded approach to problem-solving and strategy.
• In the interview, have candidates answer real-life questions about the job they want with your company.
• Small business owners wait too long to fire someone; you are better served moving sooner rather than later.
• Make sure the onboarding process of your new hires is a smooth one to avoid post-decision depression.

I am always searching for educational content to help me run a better business. Whether it’s reading blog posts, participating in tweetchats, or listening to webcasts, I proactively look for experts who can help me avoid mistakes and take advantage of opportunities. If you want to share something worth reading, please feel free to email me at brian@smallbusinessedge.com. Thanks!