What does it take to create a team that can take your business to the finish line and win the game?
The first step in creating a winning team is to determine the game and know what the team is playing for. Is your team playing football, baseball, or soccer? Let’s say they are playing football, what kind of football are they playing; touch, flag, or tackle football? What is the objective they are working towards? The NFC or AFC division championship, or the ultimate win, the Super Bowl?
Before you build your champion team you as the owner, coach, and cheerleader must answer the following questions:
- What game will the team be playing?
- Why is the team playing the game?
- When is the best time to recruit the team?
- Who do you want playing the game?
- Where will you draft your best players from?
- How will your team execute the key plays and how will you keep them happy, motivated, and persistent?
Make sure your organization is ready to get into the game and stay in the game.
Ultimately, it is the team that creates the win for which your organization plays. So where do you start?
- Create a game plan you know works: have strong, consistent processes
- Make sure you understand the gaps on the team
- Who are your current players and are they a good fit for the team?
- Who do you need on your team?
- Have a plan for recruiting your team and use good hiring practices while you scout your talent
- Assess your possible recruits to ensure they can fulfill the position
- Determine if you need short-term or long-term players
Execute your game plan with top talent and you’ll see the results and reap the rewards!
You can’t expect the kind of results you want if you are not clear about your wins and losses. You must always be aware of what is working, what is not working, and what your options are.
- Understand your organization’s strengths and gaps: financial, customer, processes, and people
- Determine how well you really understand your current players and coaches
- Consider the need for independent players to fill in some gaps: consultants, partners, expert advisors, investors etc.
- Gain yardage by increasing your resources – time, capacity, and money
- Pass your risk (Worker’s Compensation) and focus on what you do best – WIN!
Most importantly, make sure you understand the rules of the game. Rules and referees are an essential part of ensuring a game’s fairness. It’s critical to a team’s success to have a clear understanding of the rules and how a referee would apply and interpret those rules. As the coach of your business and team, here are two areas where you must have a very clear understanding of the rules:
- Exempt vs. Nonexempt Classifications
- Employee vs. Independent Contractor Classifications
Following the rules can prevent costly penalties and litigation as your team pushes towards attaining that Super Bowl ring!
Don’t wait to create your Super Bowl contending team. Join the SBAB team experts on February 21st. They understand the game you are playing, they know some trick plays that lead to touchdowns, and they can’t wait to cheer you on towards your biggest win yet!
SBAB Contributors: Jessica Hamilton, HR Consultant; Jodi Milbradt, Employer Solutions; Deb Sauder, Leadership Strategist; Zaylore Stout, Employment Lawyer.
