I care deeply about their well being, and I’m extremely grateful to have their loyal support.

There was a time 8-10 years ago when I struggled through some painful learning curves with my team members. I was fortunate enough to attract some awesome people to support my business, but a few wrong fit people got in, and I didn’t let them go fast enough to avoid the havoc they wrecked.

Those negative experiences left me traumatized and feeling that every team member was a potential liability. I felt reluctant to grow my business because that would mean depending more on people who might stab me in the back or let me down.

I actually saw building my team like building a house of cards - it could all come tumbling down at any moment.

Well, that’s no way to grow a business. Fear-based thinking and actions only manifest more reasons to be afraid.

As I matured in my CEO role and learned from team building experts, things got better.

I began to see my team members as valuable assets instead of liabilities. While each of their roles is different, we’re all rowing together to fulfill the same purpose. It’s like we’re on a boat and we can go much farther and faster while we’re in sync.

Plus it’s SO much more fun and expansive to grow with a great team. The people I’ve been able to attract are solid, good-hearted people who consistently show up and add so much energy to our community.

Here are my best leadership mindset shifts that have fostered a strong, cooperative team, who I can always count on.

Some people think because they’re paying a team member, they’re giving enough. They demand hard work and sometimes even expect their team members to tolerate inconsiderate behavior by their boss (like calling on them outside of their normal work hours often or over asking for their time beyond the expectations).

The reality is, you are replaceable. Your team member can always find a new job or client if they’re unhappy working with you. So never take them for granted.

Always appreciate them for choosing to invest their time and energy in your business. Be grateful for their dedication, loyalty and hard work. And show your appreciation often! Tell them, acknowledge their good work, give them surprise monetary bonuses (or gifts). You can even host special trips for your team to build their connection and treat them to a fun experience.

Healthy boundaries are the foundation of any positive relationship. I’ve found that maintaining professional relationships with my team while still caring about their personal well-being is the best balance.

In the past I’ve hired personal friends, and that usually didn’t end well. In fact, my worst team nightmare came true when a friend turned against me and cost me over $100,000. It was a huge mistake to hire her, but an even bigger one to let her stay on the team too long. I tried to help her get better at her job when I should have let her go as soon as I saw she wasn’t the right fit.

That’s often what happens when we hire personal friends - we overlook or tolerate things we shouldn’t in their performance. That can lead to souring a relationship and making things far worse, even if your intentions are good.

It’s also important to respect your team’s time while setting clear expectations about when and how they need to show up. If they’re employees you set their work hours; if they’re contractors they set their work hours. But clear communication about these hours is important on both sides.

It’s ok to ask for someone to go above and beyond their normal work hours occasionally for special circumstances or emergencies, just don’t make this a habit. That’s a surefire way to burn your team members out.