Checklist for Truckstop Team Building

Welcome to the newest post in our blog series, Darren’s Great Ideas! for Independent Operators. 

Checklist for Truckstop Team Building

There is a need to achieve, belong and contribute, but ensuring employees feel like part of the team takes work. Follow these steps to help engage your staff:

• Work the floor. It is difficult to be a leader if you are always locked in your office. Jump behind the counter and work when your team members need help. You need to be out there as much as possible, at least some every day.
   
• Managers need to be the jack of all trades, even if they are the master of none. Take time to learn about what your employees do. You don’t have to be the fastest sandwich maker, but you do need to know how to do it. 
   
• Know your employees. Know what makes them tick and what is important to them.
   
• Have regular interaction with your employees. It is important to interact outside of the typical work environment. Sit down and have lunch with them. Use this time to ask questions about them personally and ask them work-related questions, such as, “Did you notice anything different today?” or “How were your sales?”
   
• Apply the rules equally to everyone, which will create an atmosphere of team building.
   
• Communicate the goals and expectations of employees regularly. Start with employees when they begin with the organization and continue updating expectations throughout their careers. This ensures employees understand what is expected from them. In addition, have a team plan that outlines goals and expectations of key groups. For example, outline individual sales goals and goals for the shift.
   
• Celebrate the victories as a group and individually. Be sure to catch people doing things well.
   
• Deal with issues immediately and equally. When problems occur and you don’t deal with them, it erodes the team.
   
• People who work for you are not automatically unified, but you can bring them together by practicing what you preach, walking the walk and talking the talk. Trust starts from the top. You can’t have a good team without a trustworthy leader. For example, keep your commitment when you say you will do something.
   
• Create a feeling of achievement. For example, if you go a month without having any accidents, make sure to announce it and share the achievement.
   
• Create opportunities for employees to make contributions, which will make them feel like part of the team. 

/// Read more Darren's Great Ideas for Independent Operators posts here.