Startups, of course, thrive by having a strong, consistent flow of work. Without it, you have no product to sell or customer support to deal with. But that job isn't enough. You need to take care of your team, too. Once you have launched your product or service, you will need people who can help with the different aspects of scaling a business. But finding the right people is never easy. That's where the planning phase comes in, so let's get you started.
1. Define Your Company Mission
Mission statements are often the first thing a CEO says in a formal meeting. In the early days, a mission statement is more than a statement of purpose; it is your group's origin story. For most founders, there's nothing more important than having a company where everyone is aligned in their missions. By defining that mission as a group, you're creating an organizational structure that keeps you unified, even when you're faced with tough decisions. It may be a simple thing, but it is a key part of the company's success, especially as you grow. The biggest, most successful startups are built around a singular vision, not just something to get the product or service to market.2. Make Long-Term Plans for Expansion
Working on a small team, expanding the team can often feel like having no team at all. You may have to hire more contractors and let go of long-time employees. But that's not always the best way to grow. Instead, take a deep look at the direction you want to take your company and see if it makes sense to grow. If your existing customers tell you they're having a problem and the solution is to add more staff, then it's a good idea to do it. There's no doubt that there will be some moments of sleepless nights when you're sitting on your porch at 3 a.m., wondering whether the next item on your to-do list will actually be completed. But in the long run, you can't grow if you're not thinking of ways to expand.3. Give Your Team Clear Targets
Everyone has a preferred way of working. There are companies who expect their teams to work in blocks of time, never to be interrupted. Then there are those who allow for regular pauses to chat and catch up with each other. Each style has its benefits, but it is important that you establish some expectations. When you work in a team, the majority of the work will be shared and can be performed at any time. But everyone needs some time when they work independently. Whether it's a team lunch, a set number of hours a day for you to work, or you need to work late in your apartment, it's important that your work is always interrupted and focused on. And when you are allowed to work on something that doesn't require a team, everyone needs to know that they are included in the decision-making process.4. Create an Executive Team
A lot of startups start with a founder or co-founder leading the company. But that can be limiting. As the business grows, it's important to have executive-level teams to take the load off the founders and take the company to the next level. Creating your executive team can feel overwhelming at first, but it's not hard to do. All you need to do is start by defining who makes up your team. If you're working on a software product, you may have a product team. If you're working on a website, you may have a product team. Next, make a list of your team members and their responsibilities. Then, have the team create a list of other team members, including other employees you're thinking about adding to your team. If you are hiring interns or new employees, they may not have a defined role. That's okay, though, as long as they are performing a set of tasks on a regular basis. Once you have all your team members defined, you can add responsibilities for each person to their roles. For example, an employee may be responsible for reviewing deals for a business development team, while another employee might be responsible for writing quality emails to potential customers.5. Watch Out for Staff Tension
There will be times when an employee will speak up and ask a question or make a comment that hurts someone else's feelings. And that's when you need to take action. Take a moment to find out why this has happened. If the comment or discussion is a one-off, then this may be a one-time incident that's no big deal. But if the problem isn't solved and it happens again and again, it could be a sign that your staff is growing tired of the bad vibes. Don't treat this as an event that will always happen. To avoid this type of tension, have a team meeting once a week to touch base and communicate about everyone's progress. And if you notice that the issue is affecting the morale of the team, you may need to take some time off work to calm everyone down. You're setting up a business with people. Their own personal lives and personalities and lifestyles are just as important as their work. If you're not careful, these personalities and lifestyles could cause problems in your business, and that's not how you want it to be. You spend a lot of time and money building your business. You've probably spent weeks and months hiring employees and managing them. But all of that hard work will have an ultimate cost: staff stress and resentment. If you're building a small business, the work is the priority. You have limited resources and must prioritize tasks, so how you managing remote team will determine how well you do. Employees are an important part of your company, so it's important that you establish a work culture that won't push them away. A low staff morale is one of the best predictors of poor business outcomes, so it's important to take your staff's needs into account as you go about building your company. We've collected five ways you can create a great culture in your business to avoid potential issues:1. Involve Your Staff
As the owner, it's important to include your staff in the decision-making process and foster a sense of ownership. Your team members are the people who are executing your idea every day. To build a successful business, they need to feel empowered to create products and drive the business forward. Many small businesses don't have many resources, so when employees are given more responsibility, they become overwhelmed and frustrated. This leads to turnover and low morale among the team, which can damage your business. Help your team out by focusing on your staff's needs. In addition to making decisions, take a minute to check in with your employees every few days.2. Make Communication a Priority
No matter how much you communicate with your staff, not all employees will feel included. This is especially true if you don't communicate effectively with the employees you have and need to bring on. If you want to build a team that trusts each other and is willing to share ideas, communication is key. Make sure your team members know what's going on in your company, and allow them to make suggestions, too. You don't have to answer every question right away, but if you choose not to respond at all, then employees may start feeling stressed and impatient. If you want your team to thrive, take the time to ask about their projects, not their bosses. Make sure everyone feels like they're welcome to come up with ideas and participate in the team.3. Avoid Anger
Establishing a professional and friendly tone with your staff doesn't mean you need to be rude and combative. You need to use humor and lightheartedness to build your team. But don't go overboard. Never ridicule anyone or be demeaning, nor should you go out of your way to get on a team member's nerves. Be friendly, but firm and consistent in your leadership style. This will create a positive culture where everyone works together and feels valued.
4. Be a Supportive Boss
If you're leading a company, you probably want your employees to feel confident in your ability to run the business. In addition to being an employee, you're also the boss, which can cause some stress. When you get feedback, communicate and make sure your employees are enjoying their jobs.5. Focus on Management Skills
The majority of new entrepreneurs, myself included, have very little management experience. This can come back to bite you in the future, especially if your business starts to gain traction. Read books, consult mentors and attend networking events to learn about the skills and management styles you want to implement in your business. After reading all of this, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that if you decide to start your own business, it's likely your paycheck will be significantly smaller than what you were making at your previous job. But it's not the end of the world if your income decreases. You don't need to be terrified and convinced that the world is going to end. The sooner you embrace that fact, the sooner you can move on.0
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