Create a Professional Support System

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Some businessmen want to do it all themselves. They get caught up trying to be a jack of all trades and miss out on valuable opportunities. Building a coalition of professionals and surrounding yourself with that network is key to success and long-term growth. These connections will help you provide your clients with a full spectrum of services that you can deliver with confidence.

It’s easy to get stuck in a routine.

Establishing a personal workflow is vital, but sometimes that can blind us to new tools and techniques. A diversity of viewpoints and experiences keeps you creative, and prevents tunnel vision. It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture if you rarely look up from your own projects. A culture of communication throughout your business helps foster a unity of purpose amongst colleagues and creates a common understanding of the company’s overarching goals. Be sure that no matter which face of your company a client sees, they are presented with a unified front.

Create a professional support system.

Becoming a master of your field is a career-long pursuit. Consider the time and effort you and your colleagues have invested; you want that same energy and dedication across every service your business can provide. If you can count on the wealth of experience other professionals have spent their careers cultivating, you can confidently take on clients with a wide variety of needs.

Surround yourself with others who are the best at what they do and take the time to learn from each other. Whether they come from your own team or from outside your industry entirely, knowing who to turn to for a fresh perspective can make all the difference in the outcome of your projects.

Know when to hand off.

Knowing when to delegate is another key to collaborative success. Don’t fall into the trap of hoarding assignments or delegating only in times of crisis. A good leader delegates because they know a member of their team can do it better, or because their valuable time is spent elsewhere. Don’t neglect feedback either: roughly 75% of employers consider teamwork very important to their business, but fewer than one-fifth of employees have their communication skills evaluated at their reviews.

Be greater than the sum of your parts.

You have employees, coworkers, and outside business partners for a reason. A successful business relies on more than just the talents of one individual. Focus on what you do best, build a network of seasoned pros who bring that same dedication to their specialties, and you and your extended team will be ready to take on any challenge.

Read more about this topic at entrepreneur.com