How to build a strong team and why they need one

As a female entrepreneur, I’m sure you have been conditioned to work hard and do everything on your own. Especially when you’re starting out and you want to cut on costs. But as your business grows and your tasks multiply, you’re probably asking yourself: “Do I need a team, or do I just need to work harder?”

Working harder is not a bad thing. It’s important in any business. But as you put in more and more hours, you’re gradually building yourself up for burnout. According to an article by the Harvard Business Review, overwork is a story of diminishing returns. The more you overwork, the more careless you become with tasks that become increasingly meaningless as well. My point is this: don’t spread yourself too thin. I know you wear many hats as a woman, but when it comes to being a female entrepreneur, you only need one — being a leader.

This is why, as a business coach for female entrepreneurs, I recommend that you build a team that will increase your productivity. Instead of spending your time organizing files, scheduling, bookkeeping, and other admin tasks, you get to focus on your core business. You also get to work on your financial targets and long-term plans. In other words, you free up your time to do tasks that only you can do.

You don’t have to do everything

This brings us to the tasks that you don’t have to do. Here are a few that you can either automate or delegate:

• Call, meeting, or event schedule
• Invoicing
• Bookkeeping
• Social media management
• Email marketing
• Lead generation
• Research
• Business correspondence

A reduced workload isn’t the only advantage of having a team. Your team members can also participate in planning, problem-solving, and decision-making. This collaboration can make way for a dynamic exchange of ideas and creative ways of doing things. After all, brainstorming is only possible when you don’t do it alone. In the next sections, I will explain how to build a strong team at work and what you need to look for.

Building a strong team means finding the right team members

When I say the right team members, I don’t just mean qualified team members. When you first start hiring, you may be tempted to hire anyone who has the general skills you are looking for. But you must remember that every business has specific and unique needs. And you need a team member that will particularly fit yours.

With so many talented and hardworking candidates out there, how can you find the perfect one? Here are a few tips you can consider on your search:

• Clearly identify the job title and description. Many candidates look for roles that match their skill set. By stating exactly what tasks you need to be done and what skills are required to accomplish those, you reduce that pool of possible hires. For example: Looking for an assistant with strong communication skills who can handle client concerns and complaints, as well as respond to emails, phone calls, and other business communications.
• Give an overview of the job. Be honest when you state the range of tasks you need from your team members. They need to know what to expect and what is expected of them. Misleading your hires will lead to friction later on. They may even quit, which will lead you to go through the whole hiring process all over again.
• Interview them thoroughly. There is only so much information a resume can give you. What looks good on paper may not be the case in person. When you interview your candidates, you should spend time knowing things about them that aren’t already on their resumes. What are their strengths and weakness? Do they work well in a team? What are their interests and goals? Let them explain their problem-solving process. Personal information like these will help you see if they will be a good fit for you and the rest of the team.

The most important part of teamwork is cohesion. If you don’t click with them, even when they are exceptionally skilled, they will not be able to contribute meaningfully to the growth of your business.

Where to find your team

In this day and age, finding possible hires is not just limited to referrals and walk-ins. In fact, in the wake of this pandemic, these are almost impossible. However, female entrepreneurs can actually benefit by learning how to build strong teams remotely. Not only will hiring remotely can help you save money, but it will also let you hire members based on their talent and not just proximity.

If you’re looking to hire team members on a remote-work basis, here are a few platforms where you can search:

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• Freelancer
• Outsourcely
• Credo

There are also many other websites and agencies that can help you outsource. As a business coach for female entrepreneurs, I can also help you outsource with confidence and ease. You can take my free webinar series here.

Summing it up

Having the right team to support you in achieving your goals will help you scale and grow your business quicker and easier. I know that having the money to pay your staff may not come easy. But it comes down to a choice. Do you save money and waste your time? Or do you invest on the right people who can make you more productive in the long run?

If you need help outsourcing or overcoming burnout, I’ve written many other articles on my blog that can help you with your struggles as a female entrepreneur.

Learn More

If you’re a female entrepreneur looking for extra knowledge and expertise, look for a good business coach for women because there are many out there who never even had their own business. This advice could make or break your business.

How do you know if someone is a good business coach for women?

Check out this article about the 20 questions you should ask a business coach for female entrepreneurs.

My name is Tineke Rensen and I am a business coach for women. I host monthly masterclasses about various business topics.

The next masterclass is on the 19th of August. The topic of the next masterclass will be: How To Double Your Income With The Membership Method. You can also check it out here. Try it out!

For the first class, you only pay 1 euro ($1,20), so it is safe for you to check me out. Afterward, you decide if you’ve learned something and whether you want to continue to become a member for 47,- euro/month (with a lot of extra benefits). Or you just move on.

If you want to take it a step higher and work with me one-on-one to build your one-woman gig to a proper business and double your income within a year, without spending a dime. Click here to schedule a quick 15-minute call with me and get started.

About the author:

Tineke Rensen of Powerful Business Academy has been in business for 31 years. She built an international Outdoor and Survival business from scratch and sold it after 22 years.

Tineke was also a national whitewater kayaking champion.

She now is one of the most all-round business accelerators and mentors you can find. She helps businesswomen to “Scale & Grow, Make More Impact And Work Less.” There are very few topics she cannot help you with in your business. Many people find this hard to believe, but hey, how much do you think you know about scaling businesses if you live it day and night for 31 years?

Tineke created the system “A Women’s Blueprint To Business Success.” She is a multi-awarded serial entrepreneur and is the author of the book “Maximum Business Growth For Women.”