Here goes...
I had to take almost 3 months off for personal reasons this year. I had a family crisis and for the first time since starting our business I simply forgot about anything to do with work and focussed on the matters at home.
The reason I am sharing this is that it demonstrated several things I had probably taken for granted:
- The cost of not having a great team around you.
- Developing robust systems and processes for the business to run without the business owner./MD.
- Look after your staff and they look after you.
The Team Around You...
When we start our businesses, we usually don’t have 2 pence to rub together, quite often a “marketing budget” was an open, empty hand. As the business developed, I realised I could not be the kingpin holding the wheels on, and I realised we needed to surround ourselves with the best staff, but this comes at a cost and to be honest, it took a long time to be able to support this.
Systems and Processes...
So I think you need a couple of things to make your business successful. The first, of course is the people and the second is the processes which the great team will run.
It took us a long time to develop systems and processes to run our business well. It’s not perfect but everyone in our company is encouraged to continually seek improvements. These are not big changes but a multitude of micro-changes that all add up to bigger outcomes. This is called “marginal improvements”
Look After Your Team...
After my part-time return to work, I received a call from a team member in the evening. This person’s life had also been changed overnight. With myself coming off the back of my own family crisis my instant reaction was to remind this person that family comes first and he must deal with matters at home. However, what was most impressive was the way our team all reinforced this message without prior acknowledgment or discussion. Shifts and patterns of work were moved around to accommodate the absence and support flexible working arrangements.
To me, this was a testament to a winning and supportive team, I felt really proud of that response.
Anyway, I suppose I am trying to communicate that more than ever I am very grateful to the team around me. They have been exemplary in supporting me and family, and each other when things do not go to plan or when we receive unexpected life-changing events.
Conclusion...
Look after each other, we don’t know when we will need each other’s support.
Please login to post a comment.