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Of all the coaching and business tips I provide to my clients, the one that gets the most resistance is the hiring of a support team. The reason I usually hear is, “I can’t justify the expense,” or “I can do it myself much more quickly.”
Ladies, this is a myth that’s not only holding you back in terms of getting your deeper work out into the world, I guarantee you it’s also slowing the growth of your business!
The problem is most entrepreneurs see team as an expense. And I used to think that way too, until I created a different mindset. One that immediately transformed not only the people I chose to hire, but the kind of work they did for me. The result? My team quickly stopped being an expense and started helping me actively add new revenue to my business.
By making the simple mindset shift that every member of your team be income producing, you create a climate of excitement and collaborative success within your business. And yes, this applies to you even if your business is run from your kitchen table!
Discover how your team can be income producing – and more satisfied with their work as well – with these business-changing tips that keep my business (and my team) focused on financial success:
Team Empowerment Tip #1: Expect Your Team to Be Income Producing
The most important attitude you can adopt is that every member of your team be income producing. Be sure to communicate to them that part of their responsibility is contributing to the financial success of your business. That may mean helping to save you money (spotting cost saving opportunities) or giving you ideas on new ways to generate fresh income (identifying hidden opportunities for new sales).
Set this expectation up front as part of the hiring process and you’ll have a fresh set of eyes and ears focused on growing your business from day one.
Team Empowerment Tip #2: Make It Safe for Your Team to Share Ideas
Nothing will squash your team’s enthusiasm faster than continually dismissing their suggestions and ideas, or putting off implementing what they suggest. You can fall into this trap fairly easily if you’re too busy to consider something new or you’re laser focused on doing things just one particular way.
If you’ve asked your team to bring you ideas, then honor that request by really listening to their suggestions. Remember that even if all you have right now is a virtual assistant working a few hours per month, your team are still the primary caretakers of certain aspects of your business. And they have a unique perspective that’s worth considering.
Team Empowerment Tip #3: Reward Creativity and Input
One sure way to keep your team focused on revenue generating is to reward any ideas that have been successful. I like to think of this as a “collaborative contribution” that goes both ways – and it’s a fabulous tool for creating team spirit.
There are many ways to acknowledge your team members, starting with a simple “thank you,” which goes a long way in creating positive working relationships. I also believe it’s beneficial to include your team in the financial results of their efforts. Everybody wants to feel they’re part of something that’s growing and generating success so don’t be shy about sharing some of your numbers with them.
In my business, I begin each launch of a new product, program or service by sharing my goals with my team.
Feeling their energy support me helps me stay connected to the spirit and passion of why I’m in business.
Building a support team that is focused on generating income is actually a “win-win-win” scenario for your business. Your team feels excited and motivated about their work, your clients benefit from the enthusiasm and dedication of your team members, and your business blooms financially.
