Things To Remember To Build A Successful Startup Team

Building a startup is not easy. While most people only see the benefits from the outside and reap the fruits once the plant has blossomed into a tree; Only the ones who sowed the seed will know the hard work and labour that went into removing the weeds and adding manure that would nourish the plant to grow.

However, while this hard work may be a bit taxing, it’s one of the most crucial steps to be taken in the early stages of building your business. Another factor to keep in mind is your team, who should be a group of diligently working people ready to go through the ups and downs while building the brand. Their personalities, values and actions should be able to influence the direction of the company in ways both active and passive. So how do you select the right team in order to jumpstart your chances of success? We’ve listed out the key pointers we feel are important to aid in the gathering the perfect team. 

1. Communication is Key

Communication is the most important aspect in any relation, and that means your business as well! There is no room on a startup team for people who shut down and keep things to themselves. This kind of behaviour not only creates a toxic environment but also leads to suspicious activity and the eradication of trust in the partnership. As much as possible, stay away from people who avoid confrontation because they think the problem will go away that way. They are never going to be a good fit for your startup team, no matter how many other positive qualities they bring to the table.

Every member of your team must understand that communication is crucial for the success of the organization. 

2. Enjoy the company of your team

No! You don’t have to be best friends with the people on your team! In fact, they don’t even have to be people that you necessarily want to have a relationship with outside of a professional setting. A lot of successful business partnerships remain squarely in the realm of the professional for their duration.

That aside, it is crucial to surround yourself with employees who you have a friendly rapport with. Whether you like it or not, you’re going to be spending a lot of time together out of necessity, and if every interaction is a struggle, it will wear you down over time.

3. Run a SWOT analysis and work from there

Every great leader understands that there are only so many skills that they can bring to the table. They recognize that they have a unique opportunity when they are constructing their startup team to complement their own skills and lessen their limitations through the qualities of their collaborators.

So first, understand what you do best and what skills you lack, and then look for team members who will strengthen the organization accordingly.

4. Never stop learning. Never stop teaching. 

Every new startup is a massive exercise in education, even for people who have been a part of the birth of dozens of companies. That’s because no two situations will ever be the same. Every situation is so unique that it inevitably brings about new and unforeseen experiences. If you take advantage of what’s available to you, you’re going to benefit from a wealth of knowledge and learn from your mistakes as you navigate your company through its early life.

Not just you, but your partners too must be prepared to get as much as they can out of these experiences, as well. There will be times where you will all need to put your heads down and get the job done, but it’s vital to choose people who are constantly curious, willing to learn and will look for ways to improve the experience for the organization’s stakeholders, employees and customers. That being said, you too should be able and willing to teach the knowledge you learnt, so your team can incorporate that into the growing plan. 

5. Incorporate a management approach

In a dance competition sports, dancers are trained on what to do. They make sure they’re prepared. The best dancers, always talk about watching a lot of tutorials and videos learning new routines and studying their competition. Then when the game, it’s about game management. Sometimes the circumstances of the competition dictate a different set of rules. In the case of businesses, especially with startups, there is a lot of uncertainty. Sometimes your plan must be adjusted and adapted to the real-time circumstances that are going on, and good coaches and leaders know how to do that.

A great company must start with a good team. You need to attract the best team players with your vision and have them work together towards a common goal — to win. As a leader, it is your duty to aim high, inspire your team and make them understand how their contribution fits into the big picture. While this may require a lot of hard work and adjustment from your end alone, remember to celebrate the milestones with your teammates all along the way.

Did you like our blog about how to build a successful startup team?  Then we’re sure you’ll find our post on a few team building activities organised within the company quite interesting.