‘There’s no I in team’ goes the old saying, and there’s no business without a team. Building a productive and motivated team is paramount to the success of any business. For any business owners who have entered business alone, they’ll tell you how stressful and virtually impossible it is.
What’s more, entrepreneurs and business owners understand that a motivated team not only boosts productivity but also contributes to a positive work environment. By working within a team, an environment of collaboration and creativity is nurtured. However, building the right team for your business is easier said than done.
We explore a range of strategies aimed at helping business owners and entrepreneurs create a teamwork environment that encourages motivation, whilst maximising team performance.
How To Produce A Motivated, Productive Team
Building a solid and productive team is a challenging task in any business, and often lots of chopping and changing is going to happen. Finding that ideal fit also doesn’t stop there, as inevitably staff members will depart or change roles. This means that the process of creating a well-functioning and innovative team is a constant task in business.
Fortunately, at Nordens we’re experts in constructing innovative teams and emphasising a united culture within companies which breeds productivity and creativity. Our specialist Advisory department have worked with hundreds of businesses in ensuring teams are built to contribute, collaborate and create, whilst maintaining these principles moving forward. By instilling a cohesive and visionary environment, teams help to build companies up and vice versa. If you’re interested in improving your team harmony, or even require help building a team from scratch, we’re the ideal people to help. Simply get in touch or call our offices on 020 8530 0720 and we can discuss your options in detail.
The foundations of a productive and motivated team starts with hiring the right people. Here are some pointers as to how to produce a well-motivated and functioning team:
Define Clear Job Roles
Begin by clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of each team member. By outlining and documenting tasks and responsibilities, and what is expected of the candidate filling the role, it provides a benchmark of what to expect in a candidate. This ensures that you hire individuals whose skills and qualifications align with the needs of the job.
Cultural Fit
Look for candidates who not only have the necessary skills but also align with your company’s values and culture. Honing in on what exactly are the company’s values and ethos may be needed. This can include attitudes, beliefs, and even environmental endeavours. A harmonious cultural fit can lead to better team cohesion and a more united workforce.
Diverse Perspectives
Encourage diversity in your team by hiring individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. This not only encourages marginalised voices to feel comfortable opening up, it provides a sense of multiculturism which is shown to lead to teams that tend to be more innovative and creative.
According to a recent report, companies in the top 25% of workforce diversity are 33% more likely to financially outperform their less diverse counterparts. Gender, as well as ethnic and cultural, diversity in management is linked with both profitability and value creation.
How To Motivate Your Team
Once you have the right team in place, the next step is to keep them motivated. Employees feel a sense of new-found excitement when joining a company, however maintaining this enthusiasm can be tricky. Here are some effective techniques to motivate your team:
Recognition & Rewards
Acknowledge and appreciate your team’s hard work and achievements. Implement a recognition and rewards system to incentivise and motivate them. This can be done financially, for example through staff bonuses for hitting KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), or even for fun competing against fellow team members in an engaging format with a prize at the end.
Clear Goals & Expectations
Set clear, achievable goals and expectations for each team member. Regularly review their progress and provide constructive feedback. This ensures team members know exactly what they have to do in order to generate achievement in their role. By providing constructive feedback it sets a precedence of what’s needed to improve and hit those goals consistently.
Professional Development
Invest in your team’s growth by providing opportunities for skill development and career advancement. This shows your commitment to their long-term success. For example, this can be done through training and development programs, paid study leave, or setting a clear and documented outline of what’s needed to reach the next step in their career.
Team-Building Activities
Team-building activities are essential for enhancing collaboration and team spirit. Consider the following:
Retreats and workshops: Organise off-site retreats, away days and workshops to facilitate team bonding and skill-building. These events can also provide a break from routine work and inspire fresh ideas whilst also injecting a bit of fun into proceedings.
Team challenges: Engage your team in challenges or competitions that require collaboration and problem-solving. This can promote teamwork and improve communication, often with team members who don’t usually interact.
Regular meetings: Hold regular team meetings or company-wide calls to discuss progress, share updates, and address any issues. Encourage open communication and collaboration during these meetings.
Fostering A Culture of Collaboration
A culture of collaboration is key to a productive and motivated team. Here’s how to cultivate it:
Lead By Example
Demonstrate collaborative behaviour and encourage your team members to do the same. When they see you working together and with them, they are more likely to follow suit.
Communication Tools
Utilise communication tools and software that facilitate easy information sharing and collaboration among team members. Fortunately, in terms of communicative technology, you’re spoilt for choice with Teams, Slack, Zoom and Google Meet all providing companies with suitable communication to facilitate collaboration and increase productivity.
Cross-Functional Teams
Create cross-functional teams that bring together individuals from different departments to work on projects. This promotes a holistic approach to problem-solving and innovation and often brings to the surface issues or improvements which weren’t otherwise seen.
Summing Up
Building a productive and motivated team is an ongoing process that requires dedication and effort from business owners and entrepreneurs. By hiring the right talent, implementing effective motivation techniques, organizing team-building activities, and fostering a culture of collaboration, you can create an environment where your team thrives. Remember that a motivated and cohesive team is not only an asset to your business but also a driving force behind its success.
We hope this has outlined to you the importance of building a productive and motivated team, and strategies on how to do this. If you’d like to know any further information, or anything accounting-related, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us at Nordens, where one of our trusted advisors would be happy to talk you through your query.
