Team growth is an important part of any company’s success.
The right team members in the right positions can make all the difference when it comes to meeting goals and objectives. One of the smartest things that any business can do is provide a supportive environment for their employees, with identifiable core values and opportunities for growth.
When you have a healthy environment for your staff members, they will be more productive and motivated to grow their skillsets. In this article, we provide 3 steps that will help you build an effective culture in your company so that it can thrive!
Step One: Establish Core Values
The first step in developing a strong company is to establish core values. These are the guiding principles that will help you and your team make good decisions. The ultimate goal is to have everyone on the same page, understanding the foundation of the company values and culture which ultimately leads to better customer service, and this makes it easier for them to work together and achieve common goals.
You can gain clarity on your company core values, by either setting your top 5 core values yourself as a leader or by bringing your team into the decision-making process. Try not to have more than 5, because they cannot be remembered. Some companies have narrowed it down to 3 core values.
Ideally, once you establish your top core values, they should be easy for everyone on your team to speak of them off the top of their mind. We have a great exercise which you can download HERE.
Once you have decided on your core values, describe what EACH core value means. There is more power behind each core value when team members understand the meaning and the expected behavior behind each value. This should also form part of your hiring process. If someone isn’t aligned with your core values, chances are they may not fall into the culture of your company easily.
As a leader, speak about the core values often (do it purposely), have them posted and most important ensure your action as a Leader is exhibiting the behavior of your core values.
The next step is to identify ways that your staff members can grow their skillsets and take on new challenges within the company. As a Leader, take the time to evaluate each team member and create a personal development plan for them. When team members are given opportunities, it shows them how much they are appreciated and valued by the organization as a whole.
Some growth opportunities that you may want to consider include:
- Offering training and development programs.
- Encouraging staff members to attend industry conferences and networking events.
- Suggest they commit to reading, listening to books/podcasts that are specific to their responsibilities, as well as mindset content.
- Giving them the opportunity to work on special projects.
- Determine if they will have an opportunity for a promotion within the company and what would be required for them to achieve the new role.
Step Three: Create a Supportive Environment for Your Team Members
Once you have established your core values, written a description of each value, conducted an evaluation of each of your team members, and created a plan, then your final step is to create a supportive environment.
Your team members will flourish when they feel that their work is valued, which means providing them with support throughout all stages of their career at your company.
Some ways that you can build this type of environment include:
- Conducting regular meetings with staff members to update them on company progress.
- Encouraging open communication and collaboration among team members.
- Celebrating successes together as a team.
When you put these 3 steps into action and empower your staff, you will be well on your way to developing an effective culture in your organization. By offering opportunities for growth, building a strong rapport among team members, and encouraging collaboration, you will see your business blossom, along with having better leverage for you as a Leader.
The CORE VALUES exercise is a great place to start, but if you want help finding your path as a leader in your business, reach out for your free Strategy Call today. We would love to work with you on developing your core values so that you can provide that supportive environment for your team.
At McLean International, our mission is to help people reach their next level of living professionally and personally through strategic planning and processes. Download our FREE eBook, 5 Key Steps to Achieve Business Growth and Stability, and empower your team to help you with growing your business to the next level.
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