3 Ways to Take Your Staff to the Next Level

My staff and I at The Omar Group.

One of the keys to creating a lifestyle practice is having a staff you can depend on to keep your practice humming when you’re not there. If you’re lacking that kind of confidence in your team, there are things you can do to take your staff to that next level.

For starters, demonstrate to your team that you respect and value them by asking them for their ideas and feedback, and then act on great suggestions. You can certainly disagree with a team member, and they might disagree with you. Whatever the case, hear them out.

Accept your disagreement and respect different points of view. Never ever belittle an employee, suggest that their idea is ridiculous or act dismissive. This is how you teach your team to clam up, and you don’t want that. Often it’s a front-line employee who has that million-dollar idea. Besides, when your employees know you’re willing to listen, you’re more likely to catch wind of budding problems and address them before they become bigger problems.

When you show your team that you believe in them, they’re more likely to go to the limits to prove you right, and in the process, they’re enthusiastically helping you grow your practice.

That’s why it’s important to delegate. If you tend to be a control freak, now is the time to learn to let go of every little aspect of your practice, one piece at a time. Delegation helps your employees learn and grow, while simultaneously allowing you more time to work ON your practice, not IN it.

You’ll be able to focus on the bigger picture, which, as the owner and CEO of you practice is really your job. Those little tasks you’re clinging to? They’re someone else’s job. Give them a chance to prove they can do it.

Next, realize that you, the practice owner, set the tone for everyone working with you. If you approach your business dealings with absolute honesty, integrity, loyalty and sincerity, your employees will tend to follow your example. The opposite is true, too. If you don’t stick to your word, if you’re inconsistent and disloyal, your employees will mirror your values – or lack of them.

And here’s a bonus tip before I go: always make room for levity. Laughter reduces stress and helps you and your team create a bond. Learn to laugh with your employees. Let it become a common feature of your practice.  It can be utterly transformative.

Next week visit our blog at www.CPA Marketing Genius.com for my next installment. Don’t miss it.