How to build an effective team

Running a business is no easy task, which is why having the support of an effective team can make all the difference. Building a successful team of experienced professionals takes time. It takes hard work and dedication to create an environment where employees can collaborate, contribute, and thrive. If you're looking for ways to start building an effective team within your business, you've come to the right place. In this blog, we'll discuss strategies entrepreneurs like yourself can use to develop strong relationships with your employees and bring together a cohesive team that performs at best. We've implemented this stuff at Taxtful, so we know it works. Let's get started! 

#1 

A clear communication strategy is vital. You've probably got a system to engage with your clients, but more likely than not, there isn't one for your team. At Taxtful, every morning, we hold a 15-minute huddle meeting. At each day's end, the team reports on what commitments they've delivered against and what they plan to achieve the next day. We've recently added to our EODs and now include a section on what we've learned. This provides a place to share and reflect. Reflecting is a great way to learn from mistakes, and sharing those with the team only means we can all go on a learning journey together. 

#2 

It would be best if you gave clear deadlines. Clarity is essential. Using tech will provide an easy understanding of resource allocation, capacity for tasks and who's responsible for what. We're a fan of Pixie at Taxtful, but that's accounting-specific. Hence, many of our clients use Monday and Slack to monitor delivery. But there are other solutions, such as Microsoft Teams or Google Workspace. These are easier to implement if you are in a start-up. But remember, start with the end in mind. I wish we had Pixie years ago! Once you begin tracking deadlines, you should roll in some KPIs or OKRs around what you deliver in that space. For example, we might be really interested to see what the outcome is in terms of billing. Adding KPIs to track tasks gives a key metric to deliver goals and objectives, motivating your team. 

#3

Finally, for an effective team to need to be mindful of non-negotiables. Have you asked your team what their non-negotiables are? It's essential to have a clear understanding of these, so you don't impact the team's morale as the business owner. That means you make sure you know when your team are taking their lunch, so you don't book a meeting over that time (as entrepreneurs, what's lunch?). Our apprentices must dedicate specific time to their on-the-job training within our team. Each of our apprentices splits their training time differently to accommodate learning styles.

So, there you have three actionable steps you can implement today to build a better team and help your business succeed. Of course, every team is different, so you may need to tailor these tips to fit your workplace dynamic. But the underlying message remains the same: effective communication, setting clear deadlines, and being mindful of your employees' non-negotiables are vital in building a high-functioning team.