| How to Increase Website Traffic Posted: 11 Sep 2021 05:00 PM PDT At this point even the squirrel in your backyard probably runs a blog reviewing local bird feeders. To compete with that, you'll need a site with high-quality content, a decent understanding of Google keywords, and long-term commitment. There are plenty of steps you can take today that make a big difference to website traffic. The best results, though, come to webmasters who put in the work, experiment with their marketing, and engage with their audience. You've got this! [Edit]Content Creation - Write attention-grabbing headlines. If the headline doesn't get people to click, the rest of your content doesn't matter. Spend at least 5 or 10 minutes brainstorming possible headlines before picking one that's clear, specific, and catchy (without over-promising). Some of the most effective approaches involve numbers, popular search keywords, directly addressing the reader, or answering a question.[1]
- For example, "11 Breakfasts To Cure Your Hangover" tells the reader exactly what to expect, addresses them directly, uses a popular search term, promises a solution to a problem, and includes a number.
- You can use WordPress plugins or standalone tools to A/B test your headlines, running multiple versions to see how they perform. This is most useful once your site already has a fair amount of traffic, so you can gather data quickly.[2]
- Make your content authoritative. Stand out from lower-quality sites by creating content that relies on extensive research or expert knowledge. If you can, hire professional text or video editors to make your content more engaging and polished. These efforts will build your site's reputation as an authoritative source, which helps you climb the search engine rankings.[3]
- Include some evergreen topics. It's tempting to only cover trending topics, but it's tough for an up-and-coming site to compete over these. A good strategy is to hedge your bets with some content that can keep attracting a steady flow of visitors for months or years. For example, write a research report on your industry or an authoritative guide to getting into your hobby.[4]
- Experiment with shareable formats. In the world of social media, shareable content is king—but that means different things on different platforms, and to different target audiences. Can you turn your content into infographics on LinkedIn? Memes on reddit? Until you try it, you won't know what hits that viral sweet spot.[5]
- Use your longer content as a source of raw material. That half-hour video tutorial probably has a dozen useful clips that you can share as standalone pieces of advice.[6]
- You don't have to condense every post down to a paragraph. Write long-form content if that's a better fit for your topic, then brainstorm ways to package that info into bite-sized samples or headlines that you can share on places like Twitter.
- Ask visitors to comment and engage with your site. Active participation keeps site visitors returning. This can be as simple as asking readers to comment with their feedback or suggest new topics for you to cover. To really build a base of visitors, dovetail these "calls to action" into other marketing efforts. For instance, ask readers to sign up for your mailing list or join your webinar.[7]
- Another option is to start a forum for your site's community to gather together and discuss topics. Keep in mind that this requires at least one moderator.
[Edit]Technical SEO - Research keywords in your topic area. If you want to tailor your content to attract visitors, it's a huge help to find out what search terms they're using. Try free services like Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends, and/or well-reviewed products like SEMrush, HyperSuggest, or Ahrefs. Use these tools to identify high-volume search terms that fit your website theme and your expertise.[8]
- Once you've found some options, Google them and check out the top results. If you think you can make content that's more engaging, accurate, or comprehensive than them, you've found a great opportunity.
- Look for "long tail" searches. It's not all about the highest search volume. Aim for a mix of popular terms and more specific "long tail" searches. These have less competition and attract more invested visitors.[9]
- If you're selling products, prioritize high commercial intent keywords like "buy."[10]
- Use keywords as signposts to relevant content. The purpose of keyword research is to identify popular topics that you can write about with authority. Make sure the keywords flow naturally within the text, or use them in headers that accurately describe your content. Avoid over-stuffing your site with popular keywords, especially irrelevant ones, since this can result in a very low search ranking.[11]
- Ignore the outdated advice to stuff keywords into the <meta> "keyword" tag; Google has not looked at that for years.[12] Do include keywords in the meta "description" tag, as part of an informative summary for readers.[13]
- Help search bots with tags and metadata. Website owners can use meta tags and other HTML features to help search engines make sense of their site. Go through this checklist of best practices, and follow them either by editing your HTML directly or by using the features of your website creation service:[14]
- Add a unique description tag to each page on your website. Make the description short enough to display in a Google search preview, include relevant keywords, and use natural-sounding language.
- Organize your pages with other metadata as well: title tags, image file names, image "alt" descriptions, and link anchor text.
- Use short, descriptive text whenever possible in these tags, as well as in URLs.
- Keep your site and each page well-organized. Organize your pages by topic, date posted, or some other logical system, and create a sitemap. Break larger pages down into sections with descriptive headers.[15]
- Headers are a great place to put relevant keywords, but use them only as needed to help readers find what they're looking for.
- Maximize search engine function with structured markup. This web code helps search engines display your info. For instance, you can use this to make sure Google correctly lists your product names and prices, your opening hours, or even the right recipe names for your cooking blog.[16]
- If you're feeling code-savvy, get started by copying the example code at https://developers.google.com/search/docs/guides/search-gallery, or by using the free Google Search Console service's "Data Highlighter" feature. If this all sounds like gibberish to you, you can hire a web developer to set this up for you pretty quickly.
[Edit]Advertising and Social Media - Make a social media plan for your site. At this point, social media marketing is its own career path, but you can get the ball rolling on your own if you can't hire a professional. Research which social network is the most popular among your target audience, and start by building a fan base there. Post on a consistent schedule, and include posts that directly inform or entertain your audience, alongside posts that link to your site.[17]
- Social networks have their own culture, and users are quick to mock people who don't follow the right etiquette. If you're not already embedded in the network you're using, do some extra research on the "do's and don't's" of that platform. For example, many Reddit communities have strict marketing rules and dislike people who market without first participating in some discussions.[18]
- Give other creators a reason to link to your site. Offer to write guest blogs, propose a collaboration with another creator, or ask a well-known user of your product to post a review. Backlinks from opportunities like these are incredibly important for traffic—not only do they attract visitors directly, they also puts your site higher in Google rankings.[19]
- Go for quality over quantity: links from well-known sites with expert contributions are worth way more than links from tiny or low-quality sites.
- If your website is pretty new, don't be discouraged if people turn down your requests. Start by making connections with other creators, creating quality content, and linking to other people's content that you find valuable. The best links will come after you build up some trust and respect.
- Trading links with a professional contact or two is fine, but don't go overboard or make deals with sites you've never heard of. If Google suspects you're putting more effort into getting links than creating good content, your page ranking will suffer.[20]
- Post helpful content on forums and question-answering sites. If your website is based on your profession or hobby, join relevant communities on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reddit, or answer public questions on sites like Quora. Put in the time and effort to respond to questions and give helpful advice under your website name.[21]
- Stay connected with other blogs that relate to yours. Leave comments on their posts and interact with the communities. Don't advertise your site directly, but allow people to find their way to it via links on your profile or signature.
- Attract visitors with free materials. Who doesn't like a freebie? When done right, they attract new visitors to your site and leave them wanting to return. To make this more effective, combine it with social media posts announcing the giveaway (maybe with an added chance at winning something bigger if you engage with the post).[22] Here are a few ideas:
- Give away a free, short e-book.
- Hold free online classes or seminars.
- Give visitors a free entry into your contest or sweepstakes.
- Let visitors download free software, or a free trial version of your product.
- Offer free products to people who sign up to your email list, spend above a certain amount in your shop, etc.
- Pay for advertising on Google or Facebook. To get the most out of Google search ads (the links that appear next to search results), research affordable keyword searches that fit your site. If you'd rather promote your content directly in people's feeds, look into Facebook, the other online advertising giant.[23]
- Of course, there's a reason Don Draper gets the big bucks. You could spend years learning how to run effective advertising campaigns, and no quick guide can identify the best approach for your business. Use tools like Google Analytics to track your ad engagement, and keep experimenting!
- If you run a local business, don't forget about the real world. Look into advertising options at local newspapers, business brochures, magazines, and signboards.
- A huge number of site visits today happen on smartphones, so the mobile experience on your site is very important if you want to keep traffic numbers high. Make a responsive website that adapts the CSS to the visitor's device. (If you're using a website-building service, double-check that it does this for you, or at least offers an option to create a mobile-friendly alternative layout.)[24]
- You can hire people to create content for you, but it's usually best to write it yourself: who better than you knows your own business, hobby, or club? If your team isn't writing-savvy, you can hire an editor to help you come up with a writing plan and polish the quality of your work.
- Don't forget about your old content! If a post is still worthwhile, link back to it whenever the topic comes up in a new post. This helps new users find interesting articles from your backlog, and keeps people on your site for longer.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't get caught up with website generators and internet tricks that claim to fool search engines or deliver instant website traffic. These rarely work and at best only give you short-lived results, before the search engine catches on and drops your ranking down to oblivion.
- Most websites have some pages that aren't helpful as search results—for instance, the pages used for shop checkout. Block these from showing up in search engines using your website creation service's tools, or by adding "<meta name="robots" content="noindex">" to your page's HTML.[25] More advanced users can write instructions in a robots.txt file.[26]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Be a Modern Gentleman Posted: 11 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT The word "gentleman" is often associated with men in fancy top hats, with monocles and exquisite mustaches. While you can certainly break out the Victorian formalwear and grow a sweet 'stache if you'd like, being a true gentleman is really all about how you treat people—not what you look like. If you feel like improving yourself and becoming the most respectful, kind-hearted person you can be, then you can become a modern gentleman. Here are 12 ways you can be a gentleman in the twenty-first century. [Edit]Be respectful of others. - Gentlemen treat people the way they want to be treated. It's easy for people to be judgmental or jaded these days, but a modern gentleman aims to give people the benefit of the doubt. Be nice to everyone, even if there's really nothing in it for you. Try to avoid letting a preconceived idea about someone cloud your ability to show them respect.[1]
- Treat everyone with respect regardless of their gender, race, or class. No modern gentleman looks down on others for coming from a different background!
- "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" is a great mantra for a modern gentleman.
[Edit]Say please and thank you. - Expressing gratitude is key for a gentleman. While a gentleman hundreds of years ago may have drunk their tea with a pinky out, you don't need to worry about following any kind of hard set of rules here. Just be grateful and show some basic appreciation when you interact with other people.[2]
- Feel free to make this your own. "I appreciate it," "You're the best," and, "You're so kind," are all solid ways to say thanks without coming off as too formal!
- This is especially important when it comes to service workers. Instead of just rattling off your order at the restaurant, greet your server by saying, "Hey! How's your day going?" and don't forget to thank them after they've taken your order. The way you treat strangers who serve you says a lot![3]
[Edit]Mind your manners. - Abide by the proper etiquette to exude gentlemanliness. While many traditional social rules no longer apply, you can absolutely embody the spirit of a gentleman by following the spirit of traditional etiquette. You don't need to be super stiff or formal, but do your best to avoid ruffling feathers in public or making poor first impressions.[4]
- Be punctual and never show up late if you can avoid it.
- Don't curse in front of strangers, and avoid raising your voice in public unless someone is having trouble understanding you.
- Table manners are a key part of being a modern gentleman. Keep your elbows off of the table and never reach out over anyone to grab the salt!
- Avoid being overly informal with people. There's nothing wrong with calling someone "dude" or "mate," but it isn't especially gentlemanly.
[Edit]Spread positivity everywhere you go. - Hand out compliments liberally and build people up. The more positivity you can inject into the world, the better. Tell your friends you love their outfit, say nice things about their hair, and tell people you care about them. If someone looks like they're having a rough day, shower them with support and love.[5]
- A lot of people spend a majority of their time doing things for themselves. A true gentleman cares about everyone! Whether it's volunteering for a good cause or just being nice to strangers, aim to make the world a better place.
[Edit]Dress well and take care of your appearance. - Keep that 5 o'clock shadow in check and update your wardrobe. Shower every day, touch your facial hair up as needed to keep it neat, and stop pulling your outfits out of the laundry basket. If you need some new clothes, there's no time like now to do some shopping! This isn't 1950—you don't have to always wear a suit and tie in order to be a gentleman. But that doesn't mean you should be walking around in sweatpants and sandals, either.[6]
- You don't need to look a certain way—you can absolutely be a bearded fellow with a goth wardrobe and still be a gentleman—but you should be mindful of how you present yourself.
- A lot of guys don't moisturize or exfoliate at all. Take care of your skin!
- Invest in a quality cologne. How you smell is a large part of the impression you make on others.
[Edit]Stand up for what's right. - Call out injustice and don't let cruel behavior go unchecked. If you see someone being bullied, call out the aggressor and make it known that you don't tolerate nastiness. If one of your friends makes an off-handed racist joke or something, let them know it won't fly when you're around. Gentlemen should be beacons of justice and fairness, so take a stand when it's called for.[7]
- The famous adage comes to mind here: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." If you want to be a good man, do something![8]
[Edit]Help people in need. - Volunteer to help even if there's nothing in it for you. If your friend needs help moving, put yourself up for the job before they get a chance to ask. If someone stops you on the street to ask for directions, do your best to walk them through where they need to go. Even if it's just a little thing, do your best to go out of your way to improve the lives of those around you.[9]
- This isn't to say that you should sacrifice time, money, or energy to help others if you can't do it. You should still take care of yourself; just try to help others whenever you can.
[Edit]Engage in a few scholarly pursuits. - A gentleman is well-versed on a variety of topics, so read up! If it's been a while since you've cracked open a book, try to get back into the habit. Whether it's classic novels, scientific articles, or nonfiction, aim to read a little bit every day. You could also learn how to play an instrument, or take a class on writing poetry. Whatever you choose to do, pursue something that will make you smarter and more well-rounded.[10]
- A modern gentleman should be able to hold their own at a cocktail party or on a dinner date. Even if you don't consider yourself particularly "academic," at least you'll be able to hold an interesting conversation if you know a thing or two!
[Edit]Keep up with the news. - Be a good citizen by staying informed and updated on current affairs. Aim to get a good balance of local, national, and international news, and look for news sources that provide a variety of diverse opinions. Not only will you be able to engage in a casual conversation about that new tax bill the next time it comes up at a party, but you'll be more informed about the world around you![11]
- It's a little old school, but getting a newspaper subscription is a great way to stay up on local news. You'll get to support a good local paper while you're at it!
- It's easy to get beat down with all the negativity out there. If it gets a little too depressing to keep reading the news, take a break.
[Edit]Use social media as a force for good. - It's easy to engage in bad faith online, so treat digital strangers right. Post positive comments, share motivational images, and do your best not to get into digital duals with strangers. If you're a gentleman in real life, be a gentleman online. A lot of people are a little more controversial, rude, or toxic online than they are in real life. This is because it's easy to pretend like those profiles and screen names don't have a real person behind them.[12]
- This is especially important when it comes to interacting with potential dating partners. A lot of men out there aren't particularly kind or respectful in this arena, so be the change you want to see in the world.[13]
[Edit]Brush off rejection and failure gracefully. - Things don't always go your way, so shake off obstacles with candor. How you respond to failure says a lot about you, and a true gentleman doesn't get flustered, act out, or insult people when things don't go their way. If your boss shoots you down when you ask for a promotion, thank them for considering you and don't let it impact your work. If you ask someone on a date and they decline your offer, smile and tell them that you understand. Take the high road whenever you can, and don't let challenges get you down.[14]
- Ever hear the phrase "water off of a duck's back"? It's a good mantra for gentlemen anywhere. Don't let problems rattle or upset you to the point that you act out. Even if you're hurting inside in the moment, swallow your pride and process the feeling in private.
[Edit]Be a man about town. - Build your rolodex and learn where to find the best. A good gentleman is "in the know" when it comes to where you should get a suit tailored, where you should go for a fancy bottle of wine, and where the last pool hall in the city is located. If you're in the habit of going to the same place for food, haircuts, or drinks, spread your wings a bit. Visit new places and find the best in town.[15]
- Always tip well—especially when you're at a business you regularly visit. If you're in the United States, aim to always tip 15-20%.
- Know a barber, florist, and jeweler. You're sure to raise some eyebrows if you can rattle off a recommendation for a fresh shave, fancy centerpiece, or watch salesman! You'll never feel cooler than you do when you get to say, "I know a guy."
- If you're over 21, find a hidden gem in the bar department. It could be a secretive speakeasy, a basement whiskey bar, or a trendy rooftop spot that makes fancy cocktails. If co-workers are looking for a spot to grab a drink or your date wants to grab a nightcap, you'll be the slick guy with the cool recommendation!
[Edit]Warnings - Some of the old-school habits of gentlemen may not go over so well today. People are perfectly capable of ordering for themselves at restaurants, and many women find the title "lady" to be insulting, not endearing. Even if you mean well, be aware of how your actions may be seen by other people.[16]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Build a Collaborative Team Environment Posted: 11 Sep 2021 01:00 AM PDT Doesn't it feel great when you can work together easily with your colleagues on a project? Developing an open and trusting team may take a little while to get used to, but it'll make any project you work on a lot easier to manage. If you want a more open and engaged team, we'll walk you through everything you need to know, from setting goals to managing multiple people for the most productivity! [Edit]Set an overall goal for the team to achieve. - Teams are more effective when they know what they're working toward. When you get your team together, let every member know exactly what you're expecting from the end result. That way, everyone stays on the same page and can focus on what needs to be done to complete it fully. Make sure you can explain why what you're working on is important and why the members should care about it so they feel motivated.[1]
- For example, you could pull a team together to develop a new marketing campaign that's targeted toward teens so you can find new customers.
- You may want to determine your overall goal before putting a team together so you can think of a few people who would fit the project really well.
[Edit]Set clear standards and expectations for the group. - Keep everyone in the loop to prevent them from going in different directions. Try to avoid letting your team members loose without any guidance towards how to complete your overall goal. Instead, thoroughly cover what you expect at the end of the project and some guidelines for your colleagues to follow. Give clear direction about the steps that need to get done, set deadlines for when tasks should be completed, and discuss the work ethic you want from the group.[2]
- Some questions you can pose to your team include "How do you envision this project if we do it successfully?" or "What actions can we take to meet our standards?" This helps the group feel more involved right from the start.
- It's okay for you to set some of the expectations yourself without consulting the group. For example, you may set a strict deadline for each of the actions you decide on.
[Edit]Delegate responsibilities based on strengths. - People are more successful doing something they're proficient in. Go around to each team member and ask them about which areas they have the most proficiency in. When someone's skill set lines up with any of the tasks, have them work on it so you can get the best results. Try to break down all of the things you need to do to reach your overall goal and give each team member a good balance of things to do.[3]
- For example, if you're working on an ad campaign, you may have a graphic designer mockup some example advertisements, a writer work on the copy, and a social media manager find the audience and determine what will provide the most engagement.
- Look for ways to pair people up in your group so you can get multiple perspectives on a task.
- If the people you're with don't slot well into any of the tasks you need to complete, try to find the one that they're most interested in so they feel engaged.
[Edit]Use collaborative online tools. - Many programs let you work on the same files, even if you're remote. Look for a project management app to use so everyone can see what tasks need to be done and what's already been completed. If you need to work on the same things, sign up for a cloud storage service to share files or work on web documents that multiple people can edit simultaneously, like Google Docs. That way, you can all see what you and your other team members should be working on.[4]
- Some good project management apps include Microsoft Project, Basecamp, Trello, or Teamwork.
- Cloud storage options include Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud.
[Edit]Meet regularly to discuss the work you've done. - Checking in helps everyone stay on task. Try to set up a daily huddle where you can discuss what needs to get done for the day and where you left off on your duties. If you can't meet every day, at least get together once a week to talk about your progress and the next steps to take to reach your goal.[5]
- If you're working as a remote team, hop on a video call so you can still talk face-to-face.
[Edit]Share new information and news openly. - Your team is more likely to open up if they see you do the same thing first. At least once a day, share any updates or news about what you're working on so they stay in the know. This could be at an in-person meeting, over a remote video call, or just through a messaging app. Be fully open and honest with your team members, especially if you make a mistake, since it shows your colleagues that it's safe to open up.[6]
- If there is an issue, try to troubleshoot it right away so team members recognize that it's okay to make a mistake and you'll be able to work through it.
[Edit]Let team members share their thoughts. - Your team will appreciate feeling heard and offering their opinions. Open the discussion up to everyone on your team and ask them if they have any recommendations or concerns. As someone is speaking, give them your full attention and avoid cutting them off. Use the topic they mentioned as a jumping-off point for the next part of the conversation.[7]
- Be open and receptive to everyone's suggestions, or else your team won't feel like they can speak their mind. If someone hasn't had a chance to say something, ask them for their input.
- Give each team member the same amount of time to speak to make sure everyone feels heard. If you only have time for a short meeting, set a strict time limit for each person so everyone has a chance to chime in.[8]
- Give your team the opportunity to approach you outside of meetings too so they can talk to you whenever they feel the need to.
[Edit]Ask questions to get clarifications. - Show you're interested in what your team has to say by following up. If you're having trouble understanding someone's point, try to delve deeper into what they're thinking so they can explain it better. Keep asking questions until you fully grasp what the person is saying so you can consider it for the project.[9]
- Pose questions like, "Can you help me understand your thinking behind this?" or "How does this relate to your other concerns?" Both of these questions are non-aggressive and only help you get more clarity.
- Try your best to avoid judging someone for what they've said. You never know if it's a good idea until you talk it out or try it.
[Edit]Work on giving constructive criticism. - Positive reinforcement works better than saying what's wrong. Rather than telling someone they had a bad idea, say something positive before expressing your concerns. If it's something you really disagree with, frame your thoughts as your personal opinion rather than an attack on the person so it doesn't come across as negatively.[10]
- For example, you could say, "I love the color choices that you made for this ad, but I wonder if we can explore other layouts to really make them stand out more."
- You could also say something like, "Here's what I believe about the subject," before stating your opinion.
[Edit]Split your focus between team relationships and the goal. - Stay aware of deadlines, but don't forget about your team's needs. It can be really easy to have a one-track mind as you try to complete your goal, but try to balance your attention. Keep open communication so you can bond and feel comfortable discussing issues that come up. If your team needs a break, look for ways to ease their workload, such as delegating part of their task to someone else or taking over a portion of it. However, always keep the task at hand on your mind to make sure you're still making progress toward the end goal you want to achieve.[11]
[Edit]Remain open to new suggestions and ideas. - Show that you're willing to make changes so your team feels heard. Even though your team has a set goal, listen to what the other members have to say. Allow them to bounce ideas around and consider everything they say if it helps out with the project. Explore all the options you can so your team feels heard, and incorporate their thoughts into the final result.[12]
- You don't have to use every idea that someone comes up with, but you should at least discuss it to see if it would be beneficial.
- Avoid shooting down recommendations right away. Instead, ask for further explanation if you're confused.
[Edit]Follow through with promises and requests. - Let your team know you're reliable by doing what you say you will. Whenever you say you're going to do something, complete it in a timely manner. Stick to your own deadlines and put in your best effort so your team knows they can rely on you. If one of your team members asks you to do something or make a change, do your best to help them out so they feel like you're listening to them.[13]
- For example, if someone asks to work more on the creative side of a project, look for tasks that you can substitute into their workload.
[Edit]Model the behavior you want to see. - Your team will learn how to act by your example. Follow the exact same expectations you have for the rest of your team to help them get more involved. Make sure you open up to them with ideas, ask how you can help, and put in the work you say you're going to do so your team can rely on you. Since your team's looking up to you, they're more likely to mimic what they see you doing.[14]
- For example, if your teammates see you aren't engaged when someone else is talking, they may think it's okay to ignore someone's ideas too. Instead, give people your full attention so they know you're listening.
[Edit]Maintain a positive mindset. - Positivity boosts your team's mood and makes you more approachable. When you're in a good mood, your team will feel a lot more comfortable coming to you with issues or ideas.[15] Flash your smile regularly and avoid complaining about things while you're at work. You can also take a moment to thank your colleagues for their hard work, and help them out when they need it so positivity spreads throughout your workplace.[16]
- When a teammate is enthusiastic about something, get excited with them.
[Edit]Mentor your team members to help them improve. - Pass on your knowledge to help pay it forward. As you're working with your colleagues, give them helpful advice that you wish you would have known in their position. Integrate coaching and mentoring into your everyday activities by offering advice, connecting your teammates with other people you work with, and training them in new, applicable skills.[17]
- Mentoring can help your team feel involved and make them more eager to work every day.
- You can also encourage more experienced team members to mentor newer team members by having them work together on a task.
[Edit]Socialize with the team in your free time. - Build a deeper connection by having fun with one another. Plan a time where you can get together and casually hang out with your team outside of the workplace. Plan a lunch, a company picnic, or a work party so you can bond with the other members of your team. Talk about your interests outside of work and get to know each other better so you feel more tight-knit and open to discussion.[18]
[Edit]Celebrate the team's hard work. - Recognize your team's efforts so they feel appreciated. Give them credit for everything they completed and tell them why they were important in making your goal successful. Share the information with the rest of the team and company so others can celebrate with them.[19]
- For example, you could send out an email or distribute a newsletter showcasing the work someone put in and letting them know how much you appreciate it.
[Edit]Avoid micromanaging. - Micromanaging prevents your team from putting their ideas out there. It's really easy to have a specific vision of how to reach your goal, but be flexible and let your colleagues do the work themselves. Do your best to avoid questioning someone's abilities or telling them how to do their own work. Trust that your teammates will be responsible and work toward the goals you set at the beginning.[20]
- It's still okay to ask questions and give constructive criticism, but don't try to take control of the entire project on your own.
- Pay attention to everyone's body language and tone while they're talking so you're more clued in with how they're feeling.[21]
- If you're required to work with a large team, try breaking it down into smaller groups of 4 or 5 based on goals and tasks that need to get done.[22]
- Diversify your team members to get different perspectives. Try to find people that have different nationalities, ages, and education levels so they can offer another point of view on the work you're doing.[23]
[Edit]References |
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