If you are a leader of any SME, managing people is one of the most challenging tasks you face daily.

Whether you supervise an individual or a group, people are generally tricky and unpredictable most of the time.

But your ability to manage this crucial aspect of your responsibility is a function of your leadership style.

Do your followers regard you as a controlling commander, delegator, coach, or sole decision-maker?

Increasingly, with the outbreak of coronavirus, managing virtual and collaborative teams is becoming fashionable.

That means your ability to create a cohesive team that delivers on results remotely is a valuable skill you must have.

As Quarterli blog notes, that no matter how great your business idea and thus enterprise, it’s team cohesion and leadership that will make it a reality.

So how can you create a cohesive team, particularly in this post COVID-19 era, that will deliver results and leave you to focus on the core strategy of the company?

Here are some of the best researched ideas that you may consider and apply to your organisation.

Hire employees with teambuilding skills and attitude

The most crucial aspect of your business is your team.

It is your employees who will determine if your business will have customers as a result of the quality of the goods and services they deliver.

In recruiting any staff into your organisation, a candidate’s potential to work well in a team setting should be given the utmost attention.

Yes, the company needs a candidate with high technical skills and abilities, but if such a candidate lacks teamwork, avoid him or her.

It is better to hire someone with limited skills but trainable and can work well with others.

You will be saving the company time and money resolving conflicts.

In one of its articles, Corporate Finance Institutes singled out the ability to work in teams as one of the core soft skills to have.

From our decades of experience in entrepreneurship leadership and training, we advise you to consider teamwork seriously.

Acknowledge everyone’s contribution to the company

Once a leader has assembled his or her best team, the next step is ensuring that members participate in all decisions, though the final call, is the exclusive reserve of the C-suite executive.

Related article: How SME leaders can improve the financial wellbeing of their staff

Although individuals in the company have different abilities, skills and thus will perform; differently, a leader should acknowledge every little contribution made by the team.

That way, team members will feel appreciated and stay focused to strive to reach their full potentials.

Annamarie, M. & Nate, D. (2016), in their study, warned that employees who feel they are not adequately recognised, are twice as likely to quit.

In another study by Umlas, J. W. (2009), the conclusion was that acknowledging each team member’s contributions to the company, creates a bond that strengthens their working relationship and serves as a buffer in times of stress.

Delegate power to your team members

Delegation is a sign of maturity and security of the leader.

Generally, by the position of the C-suite executive, or entrepreneur, you are in the driving seat, and any decisions that go south becomes your responsibility.

But you stand to miss out on the creativity and innovation of the team if your leadership style is the type that excludes your team in every decision-making process.

Let your team members contribute to the collective decision-making process of the company, and you will gain a lot at almost no extra cost.

And you can effectively do this by delegating some tasks to the team to guarantee their sense of ownership and commitment to the company.

Recommended article: Five Fundamental Entrepreneurial Leadership Qualities Every True Corporate Leader Must Possess

Dianne, C. (2011) blog, affirms that by delegating tasks and authority, leaders build trust, cohesion, and productive team behaviour.

Importantly, ensure that you share the success of the organisation with your team both privately and publicly. And never at any time take ownership of their ideas without crediting them.

Manage conflicting interests within the groups 

Managing and solving conflicts is one of the essential skills that you should have as a team leader if you are to build a cohesive team.

Conflicts will no doubt emerge in your team.

But your ability to resolve them and fix the cracks is what makes the difference.

According to Carole A. T., a senior contributor with Team Building Directory, conflict is the biggest problem for leaders leading large organisations.

To solve a conflict, listen to both sides and show them the way to work together.

If you take sides for whichever reason, know that you are sinking your team cohesion.

Constant communication and team building activities have also proven to be additional tools you can explore to resolve conflicts among your teams.

Create growth opportunities to avoid threat and competition

In organisations, employees will work to outcompete each other to attain a promotion or pay rise.

This is normal, and as a leader, you should encourage healthy competition in your organisation.

But unlimited growth opportunities will undoubtedly tear your team apart if not managed very well.

Influential leaders know this very well and have developed the skill to offer all team members equal opportunities to shine and rise in the organisation.

Significantly, growth opportunities for your team, and rewards should be based on merit, always.

When you take steps to build your team cohesion by applying some of these strategies you reap its benefits eventually. Remember, united your team stands and divided they fall.