Build an Unshakable Team Before You Take Time Off!

Thinking ahead and mapping out your goals for the year is great, but have you also started to think about the vacation time you’d like to take this year too? We all need the opportunity to recharge, but how can you do this as a CEO and ensure your business runs smoothly while you’re on “Do Not Disturb”?

If you haven’t already begun, now is the perfect time to prepare for short or extended leave. Sure some stressors pop up in your mind when you think about leaving, but what is the core of the issues you see? Is it that you don’t fully trust your team? Are you wondering how to map out expectations, so your ship doesn’t sink? Are you worried your team may not be fully equipped to put out fires while you’re gone?

The common theme in these worries is trust and communication. Honestly, do you trust your team?

If you want to recharge your CEO batteries fully, it’s time to prepare your team the right way. We showed you how to Get Your DUCKS in a row in our last post, but there are additional things to consider if you’re still stumped on getting started. Here are the key components to help you build an unshakable team before you take time off.

#1 Trusting Your Team

If you’re struggling with trusting your team, it’s most likely due to a lack of communication sitting at the core of whatever reason you’re thinking of. We all know communication is key, but communicating with others is not always so simple.

If we can create an environment where our team members feel comfortable communicating their ideas, grievances, needs, etc., we can actually work out the kinks and build trust on both ends. You can do this by dedicating time and space for scheduled 1:1’s or team meetings where you only discuss whatever is on the employees’ minds.

Trust… it’s hard to gain but easy to lose! Like any relationship, in order to succeed, you need to have trust. What are some honest reasons you may not trust your team?

Is it because they have not performed well for you in the past, or is it all in your head because you have the burning desire to micromanage?

Top performers’ common characteristics are confidence in their abilities and belief that the company they work for trusts and supports them.

To start trusting your team, start talking with them more about expectations, performance, and the value they bring to the company.

This builds confidence in them and the trust you have in them. The next important thing to consider to prepare an unshakable team is setting realistic goals and expectations.

#2 Setting Realistic Expectations

When you begin to build your team, it’s easy to have a lot of expectations about how you want to get things done, but just like any relationship, it takes time to build with team members.

One thing that often gets overlooked is turning expectations into an agreement. What can you and your team members agree upon so that this exchange leaves both of you satisfied with the outcome?

To earn that trust in your team, you need to have these conversations to consider their realistic capabilities and capacity to juggle everything. It’s easier said than done, and I bet you’re still wondering how?

WATCH this quick live to learn more about leaning into team building and setting realistic expectations.

#3 Ensure Your Teams Equipped

Does your team have everything they need, or have you set them up for failure? As the leader, it’s your ultimate responsibility to think of these things. Otherwise, they bite you in the butt later.

The communication skills I mentioned will help you see the gaps or hurdles your employees face when completing their work.

These indicators predict problems that could arise while you’re away. It sounds a little like risk management because it is!

Ask yourself, have I made sure that my team is equipped with the resources, technology, or skills they need to be successful so that they are not blowing up my phone while I’m attempting to take a sip of a strawberry margarita?

You will thank me later for this! As you prepare your team for your leave, assessing what could go wrong and communicating how to overcome this is crucial.

Even if you have to make up scenarios, provide more training, or purchase a few things for inventory, the team will be better off, and so will you.

More on this topic, among many other helpful tips, are shared with you weekly!

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