I know I am biased, but I am blessed with the best team!
Having gone from one person with a dream, to a team of 11 people, I've learned from the advice of people I admire and follow (Richard Branson is definitely the top of my inspirational leader list):
Choose the best
BE SELECTIVE when hiring. My team are an extension of me and the front of my brand and company. As a very wise person once said (thank you again RB) - hire people smarter than yourself. People who will work hard in helping me make the business a success. People who are as passionate about flowers and doing the very best they can to deliver exceptional service to our beloved customers as you (and let me tell you, that's a lot of passion!).
Trust your instincts
This has probably been one of the hardest lessons for me to learn - trusting my instincts and following my gut. It is funny how when you go to start on your path to your own business, how many thoughts, ideas and doubts people have of their own to share with you. It can make it hard to keep focussed, committed and on track. BE FEARLESS! For me, having a team I can trust and rely on is of fundamental importance. Their reality is my own. I am not afraid to listen to their advice or be kept in check!
Treat the team well
One of the things that frustrated me when I worked in the corporate world, was the lack of flexibility when it came to staffing. I saw so many really good people leave or miss out on opportunities because of the lack of foresight on behalf of the company that was simply too afraid to risk flexible work conditions. The laws have changed, but companies are so slow to embrace the new opportunities. This was an important factor for me when I started my own company. BE FLEXIBLE! There was no way I was going to have a talented person miss an opportunity, because of where they were with their life situation, and need for flexibility. I see members of my team thrive and excel working within their own life balance. It's a glorious thing.
Mistakes happen
Just the other day I was talking about this with my team. Yes, when we push ourselves and strive beyond what we know in our learning mode, mistakes happen. We are human! The trick is to learn and move on. Do not repeat. It is important to me to provide an environment where my team and I feel safe to grow through discovery. I am learning every day, and being taught something new. It is such a wonderful experience. I may not always get it right (just ask Eliza), but I honestly try. The road of trust and discovery with your team is a two-way street. BE COURAGEOUS! Do not be afraid to have your team teach you something new, and do not be afraid to give your team the freedom to try.
Be thankful
The heart of my passion for everything I do is in taking the time to stop, reflect and BE THANKFUL. I have an amazing team! You will hear this from me, a lot. I know they do. I am so thankful for their hard work, their commitment to my dream and their passion for their craft. They are all artisans - every single one of them. So amazingly talented and skilled florists, they blow me away every day. It warms my heart and theirs when our darling customers say - "I bought something from you the other day and loved it so much..." "I gifted a loved one the other day, and they got so much joy from it..." "Your wedding flowers were so amazing, they made my wedding day complete..." "In such a sad time of loss, your sympathy flowers were so beautiful, they commemorated the memory of my loved one and warmed my heart..." "Thank you for your donation gift of flowers for our cause, everyone loved them!"
So... on that note... thank you, with love and blessings, GL x