These Are The 5 Characteristics of A Great Team
By: Jamie Mclaughlin
Working with Carly and Gillian, my co-founders, I’ve found the greatest team. Three can be a tricky number. But what we have, despite being remote since we launched our business in the pandemic, is extremely connective. The three of us meet virtually at least twice a week, but usually more based on overlapping projects. Gillian and Carly come to LA, where I’m based, regularly, and I’m in New York once a month. This has created ongoing, open, and consistent dialogue. We’ve built a safe place through communication where we can talk about the positive, the negative, and everything in between. Part of what makes our team so fluid is that we understand the ways our personal lives impact our professional lives, and vice versa. We’re sensitive to people’s time off and prioritize working smart, out of respect for everyone’s time. Here are five lessons I’ve learned about successful teamwork in the workplace.
Know Your Role
The practices we’ve instated as partners have trickled down to the rest of the team. We lead with open, honest dialogues. This starts by making sure everyone on the team understands their role. We review this constantly on the admin side to avoid the overlap of responsibilities and to create clear expectations. Clear boundaries around each person’s area allows for straightforward deadlines and easy day-to-days. Being human is part of what resolves the slightest miscommunication, which can lead to accidental overlaps.
Setting Team Members Up For Success
We work in a sales environment, but it’s much more about client relationships and building trust. When we started this business, we wanted to give everyone who worked with Monday the tools they needed to be successful. Often overlooked, things like a great database, user guides, and fantastic infrastructure, really make a difference. It’s important our employees don’t feel bogged down with issues outside of their day job. Even as a small business, we wanted to set everyone tools for success. Less obvious, but just as essential tools for success include creating great remote work setups for our employees—from great chairs, monitors, mouses, and a keyboard. Maintaining a supportive environment is our responsibility. This allows our employees to do their day job, flourish, and discover their own entrepreneurial spirits.
Hire For Curiosity
At Monday Talent, we hire based on softer skills and intangibles. There are certain work experiences we look for on a resume, but hiring comes down to the natural curiosity and question-asking of candidates. We’re looking for people who are amiable and approachable, even if that means a person has zero recruitment or sales experience. Personality speaks louder than previous work environments or educational history for us.
Face Conflict Early
The key to dealing with conflict is to hit it head on and early. Ignoring problems and letting them fester is a shortcut to creating larger issues for the business. Practically, this means avoiding text messaging or Slack in moments when a problem arises. I would much rather be on the phone or talk face-to-face when a conflict’s just come to the surface. Approaching these conversations with the knowledge that there’s always three sides to every story is essential. Conflict is often born out of confusion or misunderstanding, so practicing empathy and honesty is the best start. When we’re hiring, we’re looking for people keen on collaboration over stirring up conflict.
Stay Flexible
I love to see an eclectic resume when hiring someone. Things like working overseas or a non-traditional degree show adaptability off the bat. Naturally, as recruiters, we have to be adaptable. One minute, we’re talking to a luxury alcohol business, the next it's a global financial services corporation. Rolling with the punches is just part of the job. Versatility is something we prioritize in the hiring process. It’s a trademark in a number of successful leaders.