Success in business and in life is rarely a solo journey. Having the right people around you, at home and at the office, can make all the difference when you’re trying to get a project off the ground. We are all equipped with different tools and skillsets, which is why collaboration is essential. Surrounding yourself with the right people who complement your own skills, and fill in the gaps, is a way to increase efficiency and create an environment ready to cultivate new ideas, which will hopefully lead to long-term success. I’d like to explore that today.
The power of support
Success in business, as in life, is built on strong relationships and support systems. My wife and I have been married for 51 years, and her support has been invaluable, and I couldn’t have done it all without her. In business, the same principle applies: you can’t, or shouldn’t, do it alone. No matter how talented or driven you are, success depends on surrounding yourself with the right people; a team with complementary skills, experience and perspectives.
A business requires strategists, problem solvers, technical experts and leaders. All of us are wired differently, with strengths and weaknesses in different areas, each of which makes us perfectly suited to a certain role, but not all at once. Being able to recognize this early can set entrepreneurs up for smarter hiring, better delegation and ultimately, long-term success.
Building and upgrading your team over time
Now, success in business isn’t just about putting a team together, it’s about constantly refining and strengthening that team. When my wife and I started our first business, we looked around the table in the first staff meeting and thought “we’re not going to win here…”. We knew the team we had assembled just didn’t cover all the requirements we needed. This often happens, and it does not mean you’ve failed.
A good leader understands that as a company evolves, so must its team. Bringing in new talent, training existing employees to provide them with new skills, and making tough decisions when necessary, are all part of building a business that can scale and last. As the company expands, and as you progress in life, you can draw on the network of professionals you’ve worked with in the past, making it easier to bring in strong talent.
Long-term growth and the value of trust
As a business grows, experience and trust become essential factors for success. The network of professionals, mentioned above, is an invaluable asset. These are people you can rely on for advice and support, and who might just step in and help drive success when you need it most. Having a team that understands your vision, and one with a track record of delivering results makes it much easier to trust that each member will apply the best of their knowledge to this new collaborative project.
As an entrepreneur, this makes it easier for you to focus on your own fields of expertise, to take on challenges that will help grow the business, and drive expansion in the right direction. When you surround yourself with the right people, you gain the opportunity to delegate confidently, safe in the knowledge that your team is competent and capable to continue moving forwards. In the end, success in business isn’t all about talent. It is about building a foundation of trust, expertise and shared commitment upon which long-term success can flourish. No one can do it alone.
For more of my insights and reflections on entrepreneurship, take a look at the other articles on my blog, visit my YouTube channel and follow @williamerbey on social media.
