How to Build a Team That Can Cope With Challenges
Follow these tips to help your employees manage issues large and small and ensure a stress-free renovation
A beautifully finished renovation might look seamless at the end, but few projects are completed without a hiccup or two along the way. The key to dealing with these challenges is to ensure your team has the tools to overcome any issues without them affecting the project, your relationship with the client, or the general wellbeing of everyone involved. Here, three renovation professionals tell us how they boost resilience in their teams.
Contributing professionals: Claudia Dorsch of Claudia Dorsch Interior Design; Jeff Kasfikis of Big Bean Construction; Katie Malik of Katie Malik Interiors
Contributing professionals: Claudia Dorsch of Claudia Dorsch Interior Design; Jeff Kasfikis of Big Bean Construction; Katie Malik of Katie Malik Interiors
Keep communicating
It’s important to ensure everyone in your team is up to date on all aspects of a project in order to deal quickly with any issues that may arise.
“We hold team meetings three times a day and I plan my time to make sure I’m available for my team, should they have any questions, concerns or simply be struggling,” Katie says. “That way, they feel supported and also we can find solutions to any challenge together. If one of us feels overwhelmed, another person can take over or suggest a way of dealing with a challenge.”
“Problems arise when some part of the team is not clear on deadlines, requirements or responsibilities,” Claudia Dorsch says. “We keep several routes of communication open and active, such as email, WhatsApp groups and file sharing. We update drawings and instructions regularly, and schedule calls and site visits. We circulate meeting minutes, then follow up on outstanding items.”
A business management tool such as Houzz Pro can help with this, as it will enable you to update all information, drawings and schedules in one place where your whole team can access it frequently.
It’s important to ensure everyone in your team is up to date on all aspects of a project in order to deal quickly with any issues that may arise.
“We hold team meetings three times a day and I plan my time to make sure I’m available for my team, should they have any questions, concerns or simply be struggling,” Katie says. “That way, they feel supported and also we can find solutions to any challenge together. If one of us feels overwhelmed, another person can take over or suggest a way of dealing with a challenge.”
“Problems arise when some part of the team is not clear on deadlines, requirements or responsibilities,” Claudia Dorsch says. “We keep several routes of communication open and active, such as email, WhatsApp groups and file sharing. We update drawings and instructions regularly, and schedule calls and site visits. We circulate meeting minutes, then follow up on outstanding items.”
A business management tool such as Houzz Pro can help with this, as it will enable you to update all information, drawings and schedules in one place where your whole team can access it frequently.
Give everyone a voice
Create a culture where everyone feels safe to communicate, advise our professionals.
“We expect everyone to be able to communicate and deliver opinions and ideas,” Jeff Kasfikis says. “It ensures effective brainstorming and creativity.”
Trust is key for Katie, who says, “[At my firm,] it’s safe to offer unusual or creative ideas without fear of being criticised or singled out by fellow team members.
“We all care about every single project and client, so we work towards a common goal of ensuring each project is successfully completed,” she adds.
Create a culture where everyone feels safe to communicate, advise our professionals.
“We expect everyone to be able to communicate and deliver opinions and ideas,” Jeff Kasfikis says. “It ensures effective brainstorming and creativity.”
Trust is key for Katie, who says, “[At my firm,] it’s safe to offer unusual or creative ideas without fear of being criticised or singled out by fellow team members.
“We all care about every single project and client, so we work towards a common goal of ensuring each project is successfully completed,” she adds.
Plan for the worst
As well as keeping on top of challenges as they arise, Claudia suggests you also plan for future issues.
“It’s human nature to avoid problems and there’s a tendency to avoid difficult topics until they start ‘burning’, so we practise forward-looking problem anticipation,” she explains. In their morning meetings, Claudia and her design team discuss the week ahead and any crucial milestones that need to be achieved.
“We review those at the end of the week and we specifically ask ourselves: what is the worst case that could happen, what could go wrong, and where are the potential pitfalls on each project in terms of design or implementation?” she says.
As well as keeping on top of challenges as they arise, Claudia suggests you also plan for future issues.
“It’s human nature to avoid problems and there’s a tendency to avoid difficult topics until they start ‘burning’, so we practise forward-looking problem anticipation,” she explains. In their morning meetings, Claudia and her design team discuss the week ahead and any crucial milestones that need to be achieved.
“We review those at the end of the week and we specifically ask ourselves: what is the worst case that could happen, what could go wrong, and where are the potential pitfalls on each project in terms of design or implementation?” she says.
Share knowledge
You can increase resilience in your staff by arming them with information. This will help every member of the team to get involved with combatting challenges, even if it isn’t their specialism.
“We look to give the team experience in all fields of construction and refurbishment,” Jeff says. “This builds confidence at all levels and ensures the labour has the ability to undertake the expected tasks.”
You can increase resilience in your staff by arming them with information. This will help every member of the team to get involved with combatting challenges, even if it isn’t their specialism.
“We look to give the team experience in all fields of construction and refurbishment,” Jeff says. “This builds confidence at all levels and ensures the labour has the ability to undertake the expected tasks.”
Avoid finger-pointing
Nobody wants to be the cause of a mistake, so it’s tempting to direct attention to others when something goes wrong.
This can be counterproductive in a team, Claudia warns. “Most importantly, when a problem arises, you have to keep positive and look for solutions, not share around the blame,” she says. “It’s best to look forward, stay positive and be solution-oriented.”
Tell us…
Do you have any tips for building resilience in your team? Share your ideas in the Comments.
Nobody wants to be the cause of a mistake, so it’s tempting to direct attention to others when something goes wrong.
This can be counterproductive in a team, Claudia warns. “Most importantly, when a problem arises, you have to keep positive and look for solutions, not share around the blame,” she says. “It’s best to look forward, stay positive and be solution-oriented.”
Tell us…
Do you have any tips for building resilience in your team? Share your ideas in the Comments.
A firm that’s run like a well-oiled machine will find it easier to adapt to unforeseen challenges. Katie Malik recommends you spend time putting together good work systems.
“All my team members are on the same page about their roles, responsibilities, and the ways they interact with one another,” she says.
“Sometimes, we have to improvise and develop new ideas or ways of handling challenges and adjust to changing circumstances in real time, particularly in the final stages of a project,” she continues. “Since we have a lot of experience, and systems in place, we’re able to access existing knowledge from past experiences and creatively reconfigure it to develop new [systems] when facing a setback.”