Teamwork Dynamics In SEO: Defining Expectations For Success

0:00Welcome back to the simple and smart SEO show and follow through Friday.

0:04Whew.

0:04This week has been crazy in the midst of launching our founders group for the SEO squad. I've also been juggling client work, some interviews.

0:15What else? Oh, fulfilling orders for my Shopify store.

0:18So this is a very busy and fun time.

0:22This week on follow through Fridays.

0:23I have something a little different because I did a LinkedIn live with a company called SEO for hire, and there were some questions that I answered live that after I watched it, of course, I thought, oh man. I wish I would have said this or that.

0:36Because I have the podcast and it's followed through Fridays. I can do that. Woo.

0:40I will link to the SEO for hire show.

0:42So that you can watch it if you'd like it was a really fun episode to do. With Shreya and Daris.

0:49One of the things that we were talking about was things that are vital for onboarding an employee.

0:55And I have come to realize that honestly, most of my onboarding problems have been because of me.

1:02Because I didn't have a SOP in place. I didn't have a system in place.

1:07For onboarding. So I would say if you're looking to hire someone.

1:11Make sure that you list out all of the tasks that you expect them to do.

1:14And then for each task list out the steps of the task.

1:18Because there's nothing worse than hiring someone and paying them to follow you around.

1:22Especially follow you around online. As you try to figure out what they should be doing to help your business.

1:27There's a certain quality of person that goes above and beyond, just because.

1:31No matter what the day's no matter what's going on in their job.

1:34This job may not be their dream job.

1:36They just bring a dynamic quality to work with them.

1:39They look happy to help. They do the best job that they can to help you with the problem that you have. And that's what I would want in an employee.

1:47I bring an intensity to everything I do, so I'm looking for that quality.

1:51And I'm looking for that same spark and you see it when you go into a store and everybody hates their job.

1:56And then there's the one that sparkles.

1:59They're kind, they're efficient, they're hardworking.

2:01And so if you find a person like that on your team.

2:04You build them up right.

2:06And then another thing that I would want to look for and talk about is if you've got a culture of people that have bought in.

2:14This reminds me of the volleyball team that I coached.

2:17If you've got a culture that people buy into, then you've also laid out the ground rules.

2:21So the expectations are clear.

2:23And when you have to do some form of discipline, it's like we're checking things off.

2:28By this list. And we're assessing your work and your performance by this list of expectations.

2:35And so when you have the conversation with someone.

2:37There's already a consensus where people know, okay, I did not meet this standard.

2:42The conversation just is easier.

2:44An example would be like, Hey, you remember what we agreed to about being late?

2:49That you wouldn't be late.

2:50We had this conversation when you're hired and this is the expectation we need you to meet it. And then if they don't meet it, Then that you should also know what happens next.

2:57And I think that having that conversation is important.

3:00Because even though there are boundaries between business and life, sometimes as a leader, you have to understand where they overlap and it gets a little messy.

3:10And in those particular situations, a little empathy goes a long way.

3:14And one of the best pieces of advice that I heard on our podcast.

3:18Was that you have to give people the dignity of their own choices.

3:22And so as a leader, I think that's really important because we've been there done that.

3:25And so we want to solve problems for everybody else.

3:28I think it's like that with parenting too.

3:29If you see your kid making choices that, are not going to have the best outcome for them.

3:34We want to solve it for them. We want to do their homework problem for them or whatever. But sometimes we have to allow them the dignity of their own choices so that they can also have the dignity of their own consequences.

3:44So we got to give people room to breathe and grow.

3:46If they're on our team, we've got to trust them.

3:49We've got to have things in place so that we can check in with them.

3:52And then maybe even buddy them up, because especially in this world of virtual working.

3:58If you have more than two employees, then you can buddy them up so that they always have somebody they feel connected to.

4:05And I think that discouragement grows in isolation.

4:09So it's either an isolation or in a toxic environment.

4:12Or a combination of both.

4:13And one of the last things I wanted to say about this is that you can't control everything.

4:17But you can control whether you do what you say you're going to do.

4:20And that's where trust is built.

4:22And I think one of the things that has helped me as a leader.

4:25Is my my experience in teaching and coaching.

4:28Because when you're a teacher, you learn very quickly that you have to build relationships with those that you teach.

4:33If there's no relationship there, there's no learning there.

4:36So taking time as a leader, getting to know people beyond just like the job that they do for you is so critical.

4:42And I believe that empathy above all else is the most important quality of a great leader.

4:47And that commitment to a standard. Because people are going to match your energy.

4:52Or at least strive towards it.

4:53And not every day will be perfect. Not every day is going to be a hundred percent energy.

4:57But if you're committed, passionate, consistent, and empathetic.

5:01Those are the qualities of a great leader.

5:03And that consistency is going to make up for the days where maybe you're off.

5:07But because you're so consistent on every other day. Your team knows what to expect from you.

5:13Another thing is remember the wins.

5:15I write a lot and I have journal upon journal of ideas where I've written down different thoughts, and it's fun to go back and read.

5:23And I would encourage my team to do the same thing, especially wins.

5:26Because when times get hard, it's easy to get bogged down with doubt and insecurity and maybe even imposter syndrome.

5:33But if you have a list of things where you have successfully done a job.

5:38To go back and read those things is like affirming to yourself that you in fact know what you're doing.

5:44So I'd encourage that process of self-reflection for any leader.

5:49And their team members.

5:50So having said all that, I appreciate you listening to this reflection of my conversation with SEO For Hire.

5:57And just some of the thoughts and ideas that I had regarding leadership.

6:01After I watched the video and I thought, huh.

6:03What else could I add to that? Or what else would I've added?

6:06And I want to invite you to the upcoming SEO challenge that we're having.

6:10It's a three-day, Supercharge Your SEO Challenge.

6:13It starts at the end of February and you can sign up now.

6:17You just have to go to three-day challenge.com forward slash SEO, and three is written out T-H-R-E-E.

6:25So that's three-day challenge.com forward slash SEO.

6:29And if you haven't left a review for the podcast, would you do that for me? And even if it's just a simple rating, That's perfect too.

6:36And I'll see you next time for another awesome episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show Podcast.

6:40And remember, keep moving forward.

6:43Every day's a new day to get a win.