What You Should and Shouldn’t Do When It Comes to Your Team

The beginning stages of building a business are always full of challenges around every corner. Not only do we have to manage ourselves through it but we also (if you’re lucky to have team member early on!) have to take into consideration and manage the well being of our team members. Most of the time, these will be people who will sacrifice a lot to help you get the company off the ground and will carry a lot of the burden of early stage challenges on their shoulders. They don’t do it because you asked them to, they do it because they wholeheartedly believe in your and your vision. Don’t ever take that for granted. So here are 2 major things you as a leader can do to make sure you and your team are on the same page.

“Respect the dedication it takes to do everything.” 

These Things Really Matter

  • It’s We, Not I. It’s Ours, Not Mine. This is your baby. It is your vision. It is your passion. You gave birth to it. You live it and breathe it. You are the only one that burned through your life savings. There is no doubt about your commitment and dedication. Now what about everyone else that you want to be dedicated to the cause? Why will they be committed? Why will they be committed when they are being paid below-market compensation, or only equity, while working crazy hours? When you use words like “my” or “I,” you may not realize the message this sends or the impact it has on people who have invested time and energy in the business and made numerous sacrifices for its success. It is understandable since this is your baby. Entrepreneurs often feel they are entitled to say this is “my” business. For some, it is a source of pride. This seems harmless initially, but it erodes your team’s connection to the venture. If you listen to experienced CEOs, they rarely use words like “I” or “my.” They understand the impact this has on employees—even those of a larger company. For employees of an entrepreneurial venture, the message reads: “Even though you continue to commit your blood, sweat and tears to the company, it is mine not yours.
  • Dismissing How Your Team Feels. Everyone understands that entrepreneurial ventures don’t succeed, or exist, without hard work and dedication. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the needs and feelings of those struggling alongside you. If you dismiss your employees’ state of mind when you communicate or make decisions, you undermine your company’s strength, resilience and dedication to the business and its customers. You must respect the dedication it takes to do everything from the simplest daily task to the most complex business transaction. To do that, you have to be committed to knowing intimately how they feel and to demonstrating that knowledge through thoughtful action and encouragement. If you are thinking, “I don’t have time to worry about how people feel,” your employees are thinking, “Does our leader really understand the sacrifice we are making?” That question is usually followed by, “I wonder if the sacrifice is worth it?”

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