RAMZEY’S BIG IDEAS #6:
BUILDING THE DREAM TEAM
The service business can be a tough taskmaster. Your reward for everything going smoothly is that no one says a thing. But of course, a lack of complaints should never ever be anyone’s benchmark for success. It’s about striving to be noticed for all the right reasons. And that’s only possible with a team that’s on the same page.
At The Grounds, we employ a large number of individuals to help make the dream work. Every person has a role to play and while your business may only require 30 or even three, it’s still important to recognise the people you want to share your vision with.
LET TALENT SHINE
We employ free thinking ‘individuals’ with their own hopes, dreams, ambitions and talents – regardless of what their job description is. And while most of our team members won’t make the ‘big’ decisions, they are making the big connections with our guests on a daily basis.
“Success is the sum of small efforts – repeated day in
and day out.
– Robert Collier
This is why we put so much emphasis on training our people to be the best they can be. We have had many staff who begin in one area and move into a larger role that reflects their growth and passion. I have never understood why many managers fear an enthusiastic and evolving team that wants to better themselves. It’s something to be nurtured.
INSPIRE FROM WITHIN
The Grounds is built around family memories, so it seems only fitting that everyone who works here feels they are part of a big family. And I want team members to feel that their ideas matter and can be heard. Every team member has unique experiences they bring to our story – so it makes sense to tap into that. After all, to better understand our customers, do we look to just one person or as many different people as possible?
“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.”
– Steve Jobs
Inspiring creativity from within The Grounds is about saying to everyone that no idea is too small or too big – if it enhances the experience of our guests, it’s worth a look. Remember, it’s those at the ‘coal face’ who are dealing directly with customers every day, not the managers. These insights are invaluable.
PICKING THE CABINET
Right now in the US, we’re seeing an incoming leader choosing the people he wants to be around him. And while most companies aren’t likely need a Secretary of State, we do need key players that focus on different areas of the business. Some call these people the ‘inner circle’ or the ‘executive team’, while others garishly dub them ‘the brains trust’. For me, it’s not about people with bigger brains. It’s more of a ‘responsibility trust’ – the people who will be responsible for the hits and misses of a segment of the business.
Here at The Grounds, we have around half a dozen of these responsibility leaders, and it’s a privilege to work alongside them and feed off their energy. Just this week I was inspired watching our Executive Chef Paul McGrath and Head Stylist Therese Moussa deliver many special moments to guests in their Christmas masterclasses. It’s these kinds of people you want working with you – that share your vision, but each bring something different to the table.
AND FINALLY
One of our key values at The Grounds is that we ‘Play as a Team’. They say that the family that plays together, stays together – and for me, surrounding yourself with the right people is a great step towards success.
Until next week,
R