| At no time is team more important than when our | | | | accomplish by themselves. Remember: If you could |
| businesses are in crisis. Crisis can result from not | | | | get to where you are going by yourself, you would |
| having enough work and resources to actually having | | | | be there already! |
| too much. So if having a strong and capable team is | | | | Tip #2: Teach what you know. |
| key to surviving, and even thriving, a crisis, why do | | | | When you teach what you know, your team learns |
| so many of us retreat into the feeling of "Only I can | | | | and will become capable of taking more and more on |
| do it" when times get rough? | | | | in your behalf, which ultimately teaches your team |
| The feeling of "Only I can do it" is a natural reaction | | | | not only how to think through processes on their |
| when our livelihood is at stake. We believe that if we | | | | own, but how to become powerful teachers and |
| tighten the reins and not only keep a watchful eye | | | | leaders too. Meaning not only are you building your |
| on everything, but actually do everything our selves - | | | | team by duplicating yourself in others, but you are |
| our way - then we will have greater control over the | | | | growing leaders and teachers around you. Think of it |
| end result! While we may gain some measure of | | | | as a way of exponentially increasing your own |
| control, we have to wonder at what cost? | | | | energy and effort, freeing you up to be the visionary |
| Operating at break-neck speed with the belief that | | | | you are meant to be and providing you with time to |
| "Only I can do it" - without a team's common goals | | | | actually have the life you deserve! |
| and combined efforts supporting you - is a recipe for | | | | Tip #3: Be open to learning what you don't know! |
| disaster. Without a team: | | | | We have already established that we all bring to the |
| Ultimately you will suffer! You can only go-go-go and | | | | table our own talents, experiences, and resources. |
| work-work-work so much. You have to rest some | | | | Why not tap these resources? Give up the "my way |
| time, and if you are the only person doing all that has | | | | or the highway" mindset. Instead, be open to learning |
| to be done to sustain your business, when do you | | | | and growing from those around you. |
| have time to rest, let alone be a husband/wife, | | | | Tip #4: Be an energetic leader! |
| mother/father, son/daughter, sister/brother, friend, | | | | In order for energetic, committed, and happy people |
| or community activist? | | | | to want to be a part of your team, you have to be |
| Your business will suffer! If you fail to build an | | | | an energetic, committed, and happy leader. If you |
| unstoppable team that supports you and your | | | | are a walking talking complaint, tired, and feeling sorry |
| business, your company can only be as successful as | | | | for yourself, who is going to want to follow you? So, |
| you have time, creativity, vision, and ENERGY to | | | | take care of yourself! Get to the gym, ask for help, |
| give. In other words, without a team, you are the | | | | set boundaries between the work you do and the |
| limit to that which can be achieved! | | | | life you live. You will find that you are more energized |
| Your team will suffer too! When the people around | | | | and passionate about the job you do and the |
| you are treated as nothing more than androids doing | | | | direction you are headed and your team will be too! |
| a job, eventually the creativity, passion, energy, and | | | | Tip #5: Have a Written Plan! |
| talents they bring to the table get brushed aside, and | | | | Without a written plan you are basically assuming |
| if they are being under-utilized or feel unappreciated | | | | that your team can read your mind, and that simply |
| for what they do, your team members will find | | | | is not possible! Therefore, it is imperative that you |
| someone who does appreciate them and the work | | | | have a written plan that you share with your team; a |
| they do! | | | | plan that your team understands, that your team is |
| Defining Team | | | | willing to participate in, a plan that all participants are |
| Being without an unstoppable team during tough | | | | willing to be held accountable for and that is kept |
| times clearly puts you at a disadvantage and with | | | | visible. You need a plan that you can teach from, a |
| this realization you may be thinking, "I can't afford to | | | | plan your team can learn from, and a plan from which |
| add anyone else to my team!" However, building your | | | | all of you can grow! |
| team is not necessarily about adding staff. Building | | | | Often times we are the greatest obstacle to our |
| your team is about building a powerful, energetic | | | | own success. The need to control, the feeling that |
| relationship with those you already have around you. | | | | we are the only ones who can get the job done |
| From your employees and co-workers to trade | | | | right, and the fear of "What will they think of me?" if |
| contractors, suppliers, and even your past customers | | | | we ask for help, are the very things that will inhibit |
| and family, your team is already standing by to | | | | success. So give up "Only I can do it" and ask |
| support you in not just surviving, but thriving | | | | yourself: |
| whatever business challenges you face. All you have | | | | - What team do I need to create so that I don't |
| to do is to give up "Only I can do it" and take on a | | | | have to be here to answer all of the questions? |
| visionary mindset that fosters learning, growing, and | | | | - What team do I need to have in order to have |
| teaching within the team you have. From there the | | | | more time with my family and to have my business |
| lattice from which a powerful, unstoppable team will | | | | thrive despite any challenges? |
| grow is formed! | | | | - What team do I need in order to begin having fun |
| Team Building Tips | | | | again? |
| Tip #1: Give up "Only I can do it!" | | | | The only thing standing in your way of having an |
| None of us can exist - at least long term - as an | | | | outrageous business and life is you. Get out of your |
| island, and for good reason. We all have our special | | | | own way! Learn-Grow-Teach every chance you get. |
| talents, and when we pool our strengths we emerge | | | | Be the team builder and visionary you are paid to be |
| much stronger, and can accomplish much greater | | | | and allow your team to manage the rest. |
| things, as a team than any one individual can | | | | |