Hands On TEAM BUILDER
Tackle Business Challenges Head-On
> Barry Gottlieb is an industry veteran, success mentor, speaker, and author. In Brilliant on the Basics 2.0: A Playbook for Business Leaders (a recently released update of the 2012 original), he shares the many lessons he learned and core values he developed while helping build a $75 million floral company from the ground up. From hiring to burnout, Gottlieb has
encountered just about every possible challenge affecting today’s businesses and has risen above each one by con- tinually educating himself as a leader. Here’s his advice on addressing four of the most important issues facing man- agement teams today.
Change and uncertainty “Whether you own a retail shop or a large wholesale farm, you need to embrace a growth mindset,” Gottlieb says. “View changes and challenges as opportunities for growth and develop- ment. There’s this old saying that we learn from our mistakes, so we shouldn’t be afraid to make them.”
It’s also important that managers
create a company culture that is resilient and flexible, he says. If you demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to learn and embrace new concepts, your team members will be more likely to follow suit and speak up with fresh ideas.
Staffing Competitive compensation and benefit packages are important. But if you want to attract and retain talent, create an incredible company culture, Gottlieb says, with a positive work environment in which employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. Develop a strong brand and establish a reputation as an employer of choice. Showcase your company culture and commitment to employee well-being on your website and social media. “To me, one of the most important anchors of good busi- ness is creating psychological safety, where team members can say something without fear of negative repercussions,” Gottlieb says. Recognize achievements publicly and
criticize in private. Don’t micromanage. Make sure employees understand their job description, are trained to do their job properly, understand why their role matters, and are clear on how their per- formance will be measured. When these four parameters are spelled out clearly, productivity soars, Gottlieb says.
Diversity “I think we are still at the bottom of the hill when it comes to diversity aware- ness,” Gottlieb says. Leaders need to make it clear that they are committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of their organization. Create a culture of allies by encouraging employees to support their colleagues from underrepresented groups by standing up to discrimina-
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tion. Make sure the business is a safe space for open dialogue. Celebrate and acknowledge different cultures.
Stress and burnout When employees suffer from stress and anxiety, it affects business in the form of increased insurance rates, missed work, lower productivity and more. Manage your team’s stress by creating an atmo- sphere that promotes life-work balance, Gottlieb says. In the floral industry, that can be challenging during certain hol- idays. But Gottlieb suggests balancing these periods with other perks, such as the opportunity to work from home. He also suggests encouraging staff to leave their desks for lunch and making sure employees know they are expected to be offline during vacations.
Jennifer Sperry is a contributing writer for Floral Management who focuses on lifestyles, florals, and interiors.
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