Overcome Business Challenges: Build Strong Teams, Find Your Path

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Navigating the business world is a journey filled with challenges and opportunities for growth. As business owners and leaders, we often face overwhelming workloads, unfulfilled potential within our teams, and the stress of ensuring financial stability. My transformative experience of reconnecting with Pam, my former boss at IBM, taught me invaluable lessons about empowerment, supportive relationships, and the power of staying true to one’s values. In this blog, I’ll share these key lessons, each illustrated through my personal experiences. These key lessons will help you address common pain points that empower your team for greater success and fuel 

Building a Strong Support Network for Business Success

Cultivating supportive relationships with mentors and colleagues can open doors and provide critical support during challenging times. When you're struggling to keep your business afloat or facing burnout, a supportive network is crucial. I vividly remember the day I decided to exit the granola bar business. 

Despite my relentless efforts, I was barely making ends meet. Realizing I needed a change, I reached out to Pam to seek guidance. She was my amazing former boss at IBM. Pam, now a global head at IBM, introduced me to key people. She helped me land a position that provided stability and new opportunities. Her support was a lifeline, proving the immense value of nurturing strong, supportive relationships in one’s professional journey.

 Overcoming Business Challenges

Don’t be afraid to pivot when your current path isn’t working. Seek support and be open to new opportunities that align with your goals and values. My time in the granola bar business was exhausting. I was working 80 to 90 hours a week, barely making enough to survive. Recognizing that this path wasn’t sustainable, I reached out to Pam for help. Her introduction to her colleagues IBM allowed me to transition into a role that provided financial stability and aligned with my skills and interests. 

This pivotal change highlighted the importance of being open to new opportunities and seeking support when needed. As leaders, it's essential to recognize when a pivot is necessary for the well-being of both ourselves and our businesses.

Finding Your Ideal Business Environment

Finding an environment where you can thrive and feel supported is crucial for professional growth and success. Returning to IBM felt like receiving a big blue hug. I was back in my element, working with major clients like Kaiser Permanente, Cisco, and Intel. The support and recognition from my colleagues were incredibly motivating.

This experience reaffirmed the importance of finding the right environment where one can thrive. At IBM, I could leverage my skills and feel valued, which significantly contributed to my professional growth. For business leaders, creating such an environment for your team can lead to higher productivity and job satisfaction.

Turning Feedback into Fuel for Growth

Never get frustrated by feedback in fact embrace feedback as a tool for personal and professional development. Focus on improving team effectiveness. Despite my success at IBM, a performance review from a new manager triggered me. While he praised my ability to help clients, he also pointed out areas for improvement. This feedback highlighted gaps in team effectiveness and resource allocation.

Instead of viewing the criticism negatively, I used it as an opportunity for growth, understanding the importance of team dynamics and resource management. By addressing these gaps, we can create a more cohesive and effective team.

Navigating Challenges with Values

Stay true to your core values, even when navigating challenging corporate politics. Integrity and authenticity are vital. Working at IBM, I encountered internal political conflicts. Power dynamics often dictated who had influence and who didn’t. I valued honesty and transparency over political correctness, which sometimes put me at odds with the corporate environment.

Despite the challenges, I remained true to my values, understanding that integrity and authenticity are crucial in any professional setting. As leaders, maintaining our core values can help us navigate the complexities of the business world while building trust with our teams.

The Power of Clear Communication

Empowerment and clear communication are key to creating aligned and effective teams. Establish realistic expectations and foster an environment of trust. My experiences at IBM led me to focus on bringing empowerment into teams and organizations. I developed clarity on the importance of saying, “You can count on me for this, but you cannot count on me for that.”

The clarity and open communication significantly improved team alignment and effectiveness. By fostering an environment of trust and establishing realistic expectations, I was able to empower my team, leading to better outcomes and a more cohesive work environment. For leaders, clear communication and empowerment are essential for driving success and achieving organizational goals.

Conclusion

To thrive in the business world you must have a blend of strong support networks, a willingness to pivot, and staying true to core values. Cultivating relationships with mentors and colleagues can provide critical support during challenging times. Creating an environment where individuals feel valued, leads to higher productivity and job satisfaction. These principles can help business leaders address common pain points, build more effective teams, and ultimately steer their businesses toward greater success.