How to structure roles for a successful team

Whether you’re bringing on new team members or looking to build a more cohesive group within your current team, the first box you need to check is whether or not you’ve clearly defined each role. This foundational step not only keeps everyone on the same page and working toward the same goals, it also makes your team easier to manage.

Here are some pointers to help you effectively structure your team’s roles and responsibilities while keeping keep everyone happy at the same time.

Define the roles of team members

While most of us have a lot of experience with our own personal lives, we often struggle with how to navigate the waters of team dynamics. While the most successful teams share some common traits, each has a unique dynamic. For example, the structure of a team could be a cross between a call taker, a salesperson and an installer. Each member has a specific function, and they're involved in their specific duties for a limited period. This allows for the creation of a productive team but requires a lot of patience, persistence, follow-up and follow-through.

The roles of team members are different by trade, company structure and overall leadership vision. Some people are responsible for taking care of the beginning stages of the client experience, while others are more aligned on the execution and fulfillment stages. The roles may vary a lot, but recognizing the importance of each component is crucial for aligned success. It's vital to make sure that everyone knows what their responsibilities are and how they can help the company succeed.

Make sure everyone has their own role

There’s no need to complicate the lives of your coworkers. The better you can break down your tasks into small, bite-sized pieces, the easier it will be to get the job done. It’s also crucial to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the goals and expectations of the client experience.

No matter how hard you try, it’s inevitable that people will have different ideas on how to approach the work and how to meet specific goals. Ensure that everyone agrees on the process's objectives and deliverables and how the overall experience should be handled. This will help keep everyone moving in the same direction.

If you want to empower a winning team, everyone should have their own responsibilities. In other words, each person should know what his or her role is in the bigger picture and how they impact the company's mission. The goal is to inspire and motivate people to work diligently together for the greater good.

Build a team that is diverse

One thing that makes the difference between small businesses and big businesses is having a team that is diverse. It is not only important to have people from many different backgrounds and perspectives but also to represent different types of skills. Too often in the trades, we see a team member with a specific background assume that their way is the only way to accomplish a specific task or process. If you don't allow a diversity of thinking, you will become stagnant as a business, and the market will pass you by. It's not always easy to facilitate clear communication between younger and older generations or different trades, but when done correctly, the business becomes unstoppable.

A group of people who are different but working toward a common goal is more likely to achieve success. You should find a group of people who have different backgrounds and skills. Then, you should share ideas with each other. You can't rely on only one person when you are working together. In addition to that, you should get to know other members of the team. Having friends who have different backgrounds can help you to learn new things.

Provide effective training

Training is the process of providing team members with new knowledge, skills and behaviors to help them perform their jobs more effectively. There are many different types of training strategies and platforms, from general skill-based training programs to specialized courses such as training in how to offer client options, use software effectively, or how to install a water heater correctly. A good rule of thumb that is often overlooked is that every team should be trained in three things:

• Their duties and responsibilities;
• The company’s mission and vision; and
• The culture of the company.

These three are in addition to the specific skillset necessary to succeed in their unique role. Most businesses offer basic training to their team, but what makes it effective? According to the Association for Talent Development (ATD), there are three major ways to make training programs effective:

• Make it easy;
• Make it relevant; and
• Make it fun.

Our team of coaches and trainers at The Blue Collar Success Group specializes in helping companies elevate their results with training. Feel free to reach out for free resources that might help you.

The bottom line is the more roles you can clearly define, the more structure there is for the team. Without proper structure, teams lose momentum and fall apart. It’s super important that you create a clear vision and set out clear roles and responsibilities. Make sure that the team members know who is responsible for what. Once you have defined your roles, there is no turning back. You will be able to avoid situations where members drift away and start doing things out of alignment with the expected and trained processes.

Your team is your greatest asset. It takes a lot of work to put together a team. The easiest way to do that is to create roles that you can assign people to. It will take some time for everyone to develop and hone their respective skills, but once you get them on the same page, they will perform at their absolute best. Building, training and holding people accountable to roles and responsibilities is an ongoing process. Make sure you enjoy the journey!