Paul Riddle
Contributing Writer
Success Group International
A New Year is upon us. You have new goals and aspirations. You feel like your team is finally ready to start growing, and you’re anticipating adding people, trucks, or maybe even another location. What do you need to truly prepare your team for that next big step? Here are some things to keep in mind…
1. Grow slowly and evaluate your company culture. Don’t fall into the trap of hiring too many people too quickly, or making another massive change, especially if growth is new to you. Take it easy. And before doing anything analyze your company’s culture. Bad culture will only lead to exponential problems in the near future.
2. Ensure systems are in place. Most small companies fail because they expand without mapping out the specific duties of each new team member. Sure enough, no one knows what their responsibilities are. Have job responsibilities clearly written out, in detail, so every new hire knows precisely what’s expected of him or her.
3. Systemize workloads. A business isn’t really a business if you’re overly dependent on any single employee, especially if that employee is you. If you want to grow, make sure the work is properly systemized so a new person can relatively easily pick up the job… and new team members can take on responsibilities if someone calls in sick for the day.
4. Make sure your team is ready, and then provide support. When your company is running smoothly and the processes are seamless, that’s a good indication that your team is ready to grow. To prepare and help them, keep them as informed as possible throughout the whole growth process. It’s also important to reevaluate your systems to ensure that they’re scalable—and therefore consistent—after the growth transition. This will make this big change much easier.
5. Share the vision. So much of a team’s ability to grow is defined by its belief in the company’s potential and vision. Is your team happy and content? If so, they’re not ready. Are they hungry to see the company expand and willing to deal with the discomfort that comes with significant growth? The best way to prepare them is to share your vision with them constantly—and express your excitement for the future!
6. Don’t stop training. The fastest way to derail growth is to lose sight of some of the most important things in your business, such as training! When growing and going through the discomfort and uncertainty that can come with huge growth, that’s the perfect time to increase your training efforts. Make sure that your whole team is performing at their peak.
7. Facilitate communication. With change comes redefined roles and expectations of various people on your team. Maybe you have a new manager or team leader? It’s important that everyone on your team understands that progress so that everyone can function while understanding each other’s role. It helps facilitate that cohesion once again, which can be lost for a time during large growth spurts.
8. Make it fun. Celebrate significant growth in your company! Remind your people that they are the reason why you’re able to take the business to the next step. It will get them excited about where they work, and it will motivate them to work harder so the company can continue to expand.
About the Author: Paul Riddle, Vice President, Success Group International
Paul Riddle has over 25 years of hands‐on experience as GM, COO, CEO, and owner of service companies specifically in the mechanical and restoration segments. Throughout his career, he has personally trained the owners and employees of hundreds of businesses, including several turnaround situations. His hands‐on training for owners and their employees has been in the areas of business planning, sales & marketing, and company culture. Paul enjoys applying his knowledge and experience working directly with business owners and their employees to increase profits, improve the company’s present value, and unlock the intrinsic value of the business when sold. Paul joined SGI in 2009 as the VP of Operations.