Are you growing a business?
Then you have a team, whether they’re W2 employees or contractors you’ve got a team! Leading with purpose requires a people strategy, regardless of your team’s size or employment type. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re not “big enough” or “corporate enough” to need systems. Every entrepreneur can benefit from having intentional processes to support their team. Structure Sets You Free: Systems for Women Building Bold Businesses.
Failing to implement systems for things like communication, feedback, and accountability will slow your growth—and eventually, it could cost you your team. Too many entrepreneurs wait until they’re “big enough” to start building these structures. But by then, you’re not building—you’re fixing. And often, fixing is harder (and more expensive). Especially when you’re dealing with the turnover, burnout, and confusion that can show up in the meantime.
Storytime
I was supporting a team a few years back when a couple of leaders came to me feeling totally overwhelmed. Their frustration? Communication and the systems we were using. We’d recently implemented Slack in an effort to keep our 15+ locations better connected. But the team also had Microsoft Teams, email, and texts/calls in the mix. The problem? No policy. No clarity around when or how to use each platform.
The norm became: everyone communicated however they felt in the moment. On the receiving end, that meant four different places to check just to stay caught up. Deadlines were missed. Everyone was frustrated. It was exhausting!
Now imagine being new to this team? Turnover likely. We hit pause. We got clear on what platforms we actually needed and cut the rest. We outlined what to use for internal vs. external communication, and what tools were best based on urgency. Then we created a clear policy, communicated it to the team, and held everyone accountable. It took time to adjust (damage control usually does) but in the end, the team was more efficient, more aligned, and way less overwhelmed.
You might not have 15 people on your team yet. But that just means you have less time and fewer resources to waste. A clear communication system will help any team work smarter.
Make Some Moves
You don’t need a bigger team or a full HR department, you need a few intentional steps in the right direction.
- Define roles and responsibilities. Yes, for contractors too!
- Start weekly check-ins with everyone on your team to communicate expectations, gather feedback, and build trust. Keep it short, consistent, and focused.
- Write an SOP for your most repeated process. Have you tried Loom or Scribe? You’ll be popping out SOPs before you know it! Not sponsored but a little obsessed.
- Ask your team what’s working and what’s not, thank them for the feedback and most importantly act on it!
- Leading with purpose, one step at a time. You got this!
Empowering Voices: Guest Spotlight Krystal Avalos, Mundo Resources
Krystal Avalos is the founder of Mundo Resources, where she helps growing businesses build people-first systems that actually work..
This article was written by our special guest whose voice carries the powerful essence of being BAF—bold, ambitious, and fierce. Celebrate the incredible women making waves in their fields, and let their words motivate you to live your best life! At The Gal Project, we believe in the magic that happens when women come together to share their journeys, insights, and expertise.