There is no challenge in collaborating or building with those who are easy to get along with but how well do you work with difficult people? Your ability to get along with difficult people is essential for your success in business. You are sure to come across clients and employees who are challenging. These are the people who will do one or all of the following:
- Underestimate your intellectual ability
- Insult you
- Spread false information about you and your company
- Refuse to pay for services you provide
- Steal your intellectual property
- Test your character
- Take advantage of your kindness
How you choose to respond to these kinds of people will either help or hurt your business. You cannot allow challenges you face in life or business to prevent you from doing your best. You will need the skills of those who are easy and difficult to work with to help you expand your business. Be careful of those whose goal is to destroy your business. You must be selective with who you put on your “core team” to help you build your business. Select people who truly have you and your company’s best interest at heart. Select people who have a strong track record of helping other entrepreneurs. Assess who you should ask for help or who to make the appropriate referrals to. Give more than you take by sharing ideas and resources with other entrepreneurs. Be careful not to give too much to those who only take. Focus on what you can bring to the table. Assess the kind of value that you can provide to others rather than what you can receive for yourself.
Build relationships by connecting people who can add value to one another is a key part of being a team builder. Team builders are great at connecting the dots. They are knowledgeable in specific subjects and enjoy sharing knowledge with others. Having the ability to understand how different dots connect or work together, requires bringing the right people with the right knowledge to the table. An essential component of team building is collaboration. For example, at a health conference on Breast Cancer for one of my clients, we brought together a wide spectrum of professionals. We collaborated with students from various universities as well as doctors, nutritionists, skin care specialist and other support groups with one common goal to raise awareness about the factors that contribute to breast cancer. Some people avoid collaborating with similar companies because of fear of them taking your ideas. Fear of collaboration will block you from growing as an entrepreneur. Each person has their own unique DNA, perspective and ideas that can add value to what you do. Once you improve your collaborative skills you will become a stronger team builder. Entrepreneurs who work in silos with no support or try to do everything on their own, will have a hard time becoming sustainable and profitable.
When you work with others and build strong alliances, you will expand your client base, market, and strengthen your credibility. Remember there is no “I” in TEAM and as the saying goes “Together Everyone Achieves More.” If you desire to leave your mark on this world as an entrepreneur, invest in learning the art of effective team building.
Stacey Ann Berry is the founder and president of Bstellar® Group Inc. Stacey is an innovative entrepreneur, self-published author and highly sought-after speaker. Bstellar® Group Inc. inspires individuals and companies to ignite their inner essence by filling a void in the marketplace by helping nonprofits, as well as small and medium size companies that solve social, health and community development challenges. For more information, visit her at www.bstellargroup.com.
