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Common errors made by contestants on The Apprentice time and time again but also very common in the real world. Ask yourself if your business might learn from them.
1. Communication
Nowhere is a flawed communication policy more transparent than on TV. It could be clever editing by the BBC's producers but more likely it's the unwillingness of some team members to get along and talk to each other. As a small team (read business) communication is key to ensure that all members know what others are doing so that work is delivered on-time and that there's no overlap. Make sure your team is clued up on what you (as the team leader) is trying to achieve and the deadlines you face. Give each team member a task and detailed brief and ensure that follow-up meetings are scheduled in to ensure that your team is not going off track. Its always important to tell your team that they can come to you if they have any questions; An 'open door policy' can save you heartache especially when there's a tight deadline to be met.
2. Using your team
Delegation is not easy but trying to complete all the tasks yourself is impossible. You need to know what the strengths of your team are and you need to trust them to deliver. Don't be afraid to hand over responsibility to another team member, so long as you both agree on what needs to be delivered (and when) this can lead to an effective working strategy.
3. Checking your sums
The old adage instructs you to "measure twice, cut once", this is true in business. Don't be afraid to spend that little bit of extra time on project preparation so as to ensure that the right amount of stock, personnel or time is allocated to a specific task.
4. Giving praise
In the cut throat world of the Apprentice it is often tempting for contestants to take praise for another team members work. Never let this happen in your team. Giving praise to your team can bolster moral and give job satisfaction in ways that a monetary bonus cannot.
The only disadvantage is that some team members may not get praised as much as others which, in turn, can lead to lower morale. However, if a team member is consistently not getting thanked for their work then perhaps their work isn't up to scratch and it's time to utter Sir Allen's immortal words, "Your Fired".
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