Do you know how healthy your team is? In this three-part series, we first define why team health deserves constant attention and look at the importance of defining “ideal” team health. The second part of the series explores assessing your own team’s health. In the final portion of the series, suggestions are provided for elevating your team to be the very best they can be. So stay tuned!!

PART 1: DEFINING TEAM HEALTH

As a small business owner, your team’s health is of the utmost importance. Teaching, coaching, guiding, and leading are your ultimate responsibility as a business leader. Without a positive, healthy, and thriving team, all the great products or services developed by you, your leadership team, and those who make up your team, your business is likely to ultimately fall short.

TEAM HEALTH AFFECTS KEY “PEOPLE” MEASURABLES

When your team is healthy, so is your business. When your team is in a good place, they care for your clients. Workplace and team health impact your people in measurable ways: absenteeism, productivity, recruitment/retention, culture and employee morale. Your team wants to know the work they do matters. And when they understand and get behind the “why” of their work, the right team members want to give the business their best!

Recognizing the impact of your support as the team leader is step number one. You built your team because of your belief in the work you and the team do and because your leadership vision is strong. Building a team is not easy work. Ensuring team health is strong is paramount to your business’ success.

TEAM HEALTH AFFECTS INDIVIDUAL ENGAGEMENT

Identifying the ideal picture for your team and their ultimate success will help them to understand the “why” of their work and be able to translate their work into the meaningful impact they have on clients. The consequences of that good work reflect back on them in both financial reward, strong mental health, and the pride of being part of something bigger than themselves.

With a clear, succinct picture you and your team can share and see and believe in, your productivity knows no bounds! A supported team is a supportive team. Your expectations for the team should be well-known, paired with your tough love, support, guidance, and coaching.

Do you have a good sense of where each individual on your team is in terms of good health? What are the missing pieces holding your team back from achieving their ideal team health? Digging deep and looking at the root causes for any challenges in your way is a necessary step.

TEAM HEALTH STARTS WITH LEADERS

Paint the picture for your team. Tell them what your ideal team’s health looks like, feels like, and the associated characteristics regularly demonstrated by that ideally pictured team. When you come together to brainstorm around needed resources and activities, you may be amazed at the simple solutions available to you.

We know a strong team is an unstoppable team. The work of building, maintaining and cultivating a great team is never-ending work. Patience, persistence, and recognition of when something is off with your team are all pieces of the bigger puzzle. Doing the work - both as the leader and as the team - will provide great rewards! Make the investment of time and imagination to paint your team’s ideal health picture and watch it come to reality.

In the next section we look at assessing your team’s health in three steps. Article three outlines low or no-lost to take your team’s health to the next level, regardless of where the health level is currently.