We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Did you know that this is true in the business world as well?
Companies often begin with a single founder, but it takes more than one person to build a successful business. My philosophy is that “we all row together.” I have found you’ll get further in business (and in life) when you set clear goals, communicate those goals to everyone on your team and reward your team for reaching those goals.
I believe, in order to grow your business, you must surround yourself with smart people. When it comes to hiring, I’m very direct about our intense work environment. I stress to potential employees just how hard this team works. I’m up front with what they’ll be getting themselves into in this type of “village,” and I realize not everyone is cut out for this kind of fierce (and fun) atmosphere.
To succeed at LionShare, you have to excel in this type of work environment. I’m looking for A+ players who will give 100 percent and carry their weight, no excuses. In addition, I want employees who are willing to push back and stretch me as a businesswoman and do the same for their colleagues. Honest, direct communication is a must.
After 18 years of owning a small business, I’ve also learned it’s less about titles and more about skills and utilizing your employees’ strengths. We don’t try to fix each other’s weaknesses; instead we focus on our strengths. This mindset tends to bring out the passion in our players because they are loving what they do.
Growth requires trust and delegation. I’ve had to realize I can only do so much as one person and to rely on “my village” for help. My HEMP mentor Ken Rashid taught me to surround myself with like-minded people who I trust to carry forward my vision.
At the end of the day, if you have good people you trust, who trust you, and feel valued, they’ll be willing to move whatever dirt you put in front of them for the good of the “village.”
