Your business is only as good as your people. Whether you hire an all-in-one team or assemble your employees one by one, you want the end result to be AMAZING!

So, let’s talk about a few things you can do as your team’s leader to create an awesome company culture that allows everyone to grow, challenge themselves, and produce outstanding results:

1. Give Clear Instructions
   
   Your team wants to produce stellar work, but they need all the important information about the project BEFORE they start. Don’t make them chase you down for the details. That project should be mapped out from start to finish before you ever present it to your team, and that includes collecting any assets they’ll need to get the job done. The clearer you are from the start, the better they’ll be able to meet your expectations and avoid hiccups along the way.
   
   
2. Get Everything Organized
   
   You should have all resources needed for the project at hand in one location that your whole team can access. If people are trying to track down documents, folders, links, or passwords, they’re wasting valuable time. I recommend using a project management system (I love Asana!) to organize your materials and streamline communication for your whole team. It makes it so easy for everyone to stay on top of deadlines, add tasks or assets, and work collaboratively.
   
   
3. Set Clear Expectations
   
   Don’t make your team guess what you want them to do or when you want it done! Before embarking on a new project, you should outline the scope of work and set precise deadlines for your team. They’ll know exactly what you expect from them, and clear deadlines make it much easier to keep a project on track.
   
   
4. Back Off
   
   You’ve outlined every step of the project, given your team all the resources, and set the deadlines, now it’s time to step away and let them work! Make it clear that they can come to you anytime with questions, concerns, or problems, but don’t micromanage. You hired them because you knew they could get the job done, and now you have to trust them to do it!
   
   Regularly scheduled check-ins are great to ensure that everything is on track and running smoothly, but no one wants their boss standing over their shoulder watching every move!
   
   
5. Have an Open Door Policy
   
   The number one attribute of a good leader is great communication skills. You want the lines of communication between you and your team to be open at all times. You want them to trust you and feel comfortable coming to you for clarity, or advice, or if they’re struggling with something. Building those great relationships means treating your team professionally, respectfully, and with kindness. Be open to their suggestions and encourage them to try new things and expand their skills. If you can be your team’s biggest cheerleader, they will truly go the extra mile for you.

If you want to get more advice on building a winning team, check out this episode of Building Your Empire with SophieZo. And if you want to skip it all and get a spectacular team that you never have to manage, let’s talk, because I’ve got just what you’re looking for!