by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor

As you grow your business, the key that will lead to success or failure is the performance of your team. Before you consider that next hire, be sure that everyone on your team is pulling in the same direction.

Here are 5 ways to build and maintain a winning team.

5 Ways to Enhance the Performance of Your Team

1.Begin with the 80/20 Rule. 

Recognize that 20% of your staff will be responsible for 80% of your problems. These problems will drag you away from everything else you should be doing to build your business. Identify that 20% and create a plan to correct them or move them out.

2. Create Employee Guidelines.

Document a set of values, rules and attitudes that you want to see in your business. These guidelines might relate to customer interactions, inter-office activities, quality of work and other similar topics.

3. Involve employees in building out the team.

Create an interviewing and hiring process that involves current employees. If they have a say in hiring, they will have a vested interest in making new employees successful.

4. Keep your door open to employees.

If you understand their needs and issues you can stop problems before they occur.

5. Reward what you want to replicate.

Public and private recognition wins big points with employees. As does time off, surprise bonuses and team retreats. And don’t forget those simple words, “Thank you.”