Kathy Ireland, our cover story for the September/October 2019 issue of SUCCESS magazine, knows how to create a solid, cohesive and lasting team. After all, most of his core team members at kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW), a multi-billion dollar brand, have been with him for nearly 30 years.
Ireland has built a successful team by identifying the best performers very early on. But how did she determine exactly who would be the best fit? Read on for Ireland's tips for building the perfect squad.
1. Prioritize people who support the same common goals as you.
“Our company vision is to teach, inspire, empower and make our world a better place,” said Ireland, adding that she only works with people who share that vision through a commitment to give back. “Some effort, attention, and resources should be devoted to nonprofits.”
Everyone who works with kiWW must commit to supporting one of the company's many missions, such as eradicating hunger and poverty, combating human trafficking and supporting veterans.
“Once in a while we get people who say, 'No, I'm not interested by any of them, "Ireland said. "There's something that I believe everyone can support, but when we get someone who can't support any of those things, [we say], 'OK, we're not a good partner as a partners. » »
2. Embrace people with different views and opinions.
Ireland says hiring a diverse group of people for their core team has been a crucial part of their success. “I love the idea of people from different backgrounds coming together for a common goal,” she says, noting that kiWW has received awards for its diversity.
“We have different personalities and different ways of 'address life,' says Ireland. “If you only get along with people like you, you sing for the choir, and I find that very boring. I love working with people who make me think and who really learn and wonder why I believe what I do. »
3. Focus on people first, not money.
“We consider other people more important than us,” says Ireland. "When we consider a professional relationship, the first question we ask ourselves is, 'This partner, this person or this company – how are we going to raise them and help them?' They are already wonderful, how are we going to help them grow even more?
Ireland says some people think this method of approaching business is counter-intuitive. But that doesn't shake Ireland's belief in its effectiveness. “I learned when we do things for the right reasons – and when we do them well and our eyes are on ourselves and others – the money comes. Working with the right people is what is important to us. »
4. Don't rush into a rental, especially a big one.
Ireland says some people have criticized kiWW for being too slow to grow. Ireland's response?
"We've grown at a rate where I'm comfortable with the time it takes to vet each potential partner and make sure they're people who are going to help us to honor our mission,” she says.
5. Make sure employees are treated well at all levels.
Ireland's father has worked in labor relations with the likes of Cesar Chavez. She says her father's commitment to always making sure people are treated well has been passed down to her. This means that in addition to hosting regular focus groups, kiWW also conducts surprise factory inspections.
“For everything we bring to market, [we ask]:How are we doing? got there? What kind of imprint does it leave? All of these answers are critical to what we do and who we will be working with,” says Ireland.
6. Learn from failed relationships.
Unfortunately, kiWW has been burned by business relationships in the past. But instead of dwelling on those missteps, Ireland uses them as a learning experience.
“There have been times when people have not been honest,” Ireland says. “Sometimes people aren't always who they say they are, and we were disappointed. It's hard when we've been hurt in this way, but we're picking up and acknowledging how powerfully we need to move forward. [It’s about] having the tenacity to keep going. »
7. Treat your work team like a sports team.
Ireland says they have always had an affinity for sports and the unique perspective they offer on healthy competition.
“I I have the most amazing team," said Ireland. " I love them. They are family. They're also very competitive, but they're fair – you just don't win when you cheat, and I love that from our team. »
Related:Kathy Ireland:Her Universe Is Ever Expanding
