| Selecting The Team | | | | contributers to team success is having a diverse mix |
| What are the characteristics of a successful team? | | | | of thinking styles. However, that does come with its |
| Well, if we look in the sporting arena we can certainly | | | | own downside as a diverse team is more difficult to |
| identify that truly successful teams are mostly | | | | manage. The trick is to achieve a balance between |
| successful because they bring together a group of | | | | diversity of thinking and commonality of |
| people who all bring a very high level of skill. But | | | | temperament. You and your colleagues must be |
| success is much more than that, it's also about the | | | | willing to put the team first. |
| drive determination and commitment that each team | | | | 3. Do we have similar goals and the objectives? |
| member is willing to invest. | | | | Although we've already covered getting on together, |
| Effective teams seem to gel together, as well as | | | | there are some other important issues to consider. |
| being aware of his own skills and capability, each | | | | And the most important consideration of all is that |
| team member also understands how his team mates | | | | you must all want to work towards achieving similar |
| can contribute. Really effective team players | | | | goals and objectives. If you can't agree on your goals |
| acknowledge their team mate's strengths and | | | | and objectives you will never make a decision let |
| capabilities and, collectively, they play to each others | | | | alone achieve success. |
| strengths. | | | | 4. Do we have complimentary skills and abilities? |
| So, if you want to build a successful product | | | | One of the biggest barriers to success when you |
| development team, you need to be aware of the | | | | work alone is that you are responsible for every |
| specific skills required and, just as importantly, you | | | | single aspect of your business. You can't pass a job |
| need to be able to identify people who demonstrate | | | | to another Department, because there isn't one! So, |
| an empathy for others. In our experience, good team | | | | if you intend to put a team together, you need to |
| members focus on two key things... | | | | make sure that you cover the widest and most |
| Firstly, they understand what needs to be done and | | | | diverse range of skills and abilities. |
| what their own personal contribution is. They bring all | | | | 5. Do we have commitment? |
| their skill and experience to achieving specific tasks | | | | Working together requires commitment. Each |
| that contribute towards the overall team objectives. | | | | member of the team must be willing to be |
| Secondly, they have an awareness of working | | | | accountable to fulfill their responsibilities. If you |
| processes and they understand that part of being a | | | | commit to giving three hours a day to project, then |
| member of a team is focusing on teamwork itself. | | | | you must deliver on that commitment. |
| They watch out for other team members, they | | | | Typically, an Internet marketing based project will |
| motivate others and, where appropriate, they | | | | require team members who can: |
| provide coaching. So, when selecting potential team | | | | 1. Research and identify a specific niche market, |
| members you need to be able to assess each | | | | understand the needs of that market and know how |
| individual's specific skills and capabilities and you also | | | | to reach potential customers. |
| need to be able to judge if they will make good | | | | 2. Create websites, including configuring domain name |
| team members. | | | | servers, setting up hosting accounts, uploading and |
| While it can be relatively easy to identify someone's | | | | installing scripts, editing HTML pages and administering |
| level of expertise, it is somewhat more difficult to | | | | back end functions such as payment processing and |
| determine if they are someone that you are willing to | | | | customer management. |
| really get to know and trust. | | | | 3. Create information-products such as special |
| In fact, one of the biggest reasons that teams and | | | | reports, ebooks, audio-based interviews, instructional |
| partnerships fail is a breakdown in relationships and a | | | | videos or other digital products. |
| lack of trust. | | | | 4. Create software, scripts, desk top applications and |
| The single most important attribute that any member | | | | other programmes. Including the integration of |
| can bring to a team is his integrity. Great teams are | | | | installation wizards and graphical user interfaces, |
| successful because everything they do is done | | | | together with the associated documents and user |
| openly, honestly and with complete transparency. | | | | manuals. |
| When you decide that you want to set up a | | | | 5. Design suitable graphics including headers, footers, |
| joint-venture team, you might like to consider some | | | | ebook covers, background images, software boxes |
| questions that we asked when we initially explored | | | | and promotional materials such as banners. |
| the possibility of working together. | | | | 6. Write compelling sales copy including promotional |
| 1. Are potential partners known from personal | | | | advertisements, classified ads, sales letters, articles |
| contact? | | | | and press releases. |
| Of course the majority of people get to know one | | | | Ideally you will build a joint-venture partnership, or |
| another online through forums and other communities | | | | team, which includes members who can collectively |
| such as Facebook, the most popular social | | | | cover all of the above tasks. However, you may find |
| networking site. There are many ways that you can | | | | that you have a few skills gaps - in which case the |
| get to know someone online. It's important to bear in | | | | ideal solution is to outsource those tasks to specialist |
| mind that personal contact is important and, at the | | | | freelancers. |
| very least, you should make contact by telephone or | | | | When selecting a suitable freelancer you must do |
| Skype. Although it isn't always possible, a face to | | | | your due diligence by thoroughly investigating all the |
| face meeting is ideal. Offline seminars and workshops | | | | available information. If you are in any doubt you |
| are great places to meet and to get to know | | | | should consider setting up a small test project before |
| potential joint venture partners. | | | | outsourcing a critical part of your project. Being |
| 2. Are we likely to get on together? | | | | aware of your own capabilities and being open and |
| Let's face it, if you're going to be working with | | | | honest with your joint venture partners will pay great |
| someone you should like them and having a similar | | | | dividends in the future. |
| sense of humour can help. One of the biggest | | | | |