“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.” – Halford Luccock

I’ve talked a lot about surrounding yourself with people you trust to help in making the best decisions for your business.

But that’s way easier said than done.

After all, your company is your baby. You want the best for it, and you want to do everything you can to help it grow up strong and meet its potential.

So, who do you choose to advise and support you and your business?

I’m talking specifics here. There’s got to be some strategy in who you choose. So, to help you get started, I’m going to give you a few guidelines to keep in mind as you pick out your teammates.

Someone Who Can Do the Stuff You Can’t

Think about what it is you’re good at. A lot of business owners are visionaries – if that’s the case with you, you’ll want someone on your side who’s great at putting ideas into action and getting your team organized to move forward.

Even if you’re not the visionary type, take some time to consider your own skills, and then find someone who fills in the gaps where you may fall short. One of the keys to building a strong business support team is making sure the group is well-rounded.

A Financial Management Superstar

Whether you’re a finance person or not, you need a great CFO on your team, even if they’re not around full-time. The fact is, you are the least qualified person to analyze your own business’ finances because you’re simply too close to them.

Having the opinion of someone with the ability to zoom out is one of the best gifts you can give yourself as you plan for the future of your organization.

Take Care of Your People

When putting together an advisory board or deciding who’s going to have input into the nuts and bolts of your company, business owners tend to gravitate towards great minds in sales and marketing. That’s the stuff that yields fast, tangible, attractive results.

But beware; you might be leaving your employees out to dry if you tip that scale too far.

You need someone around who can weigh in on HR issues and difficult things like hiring, firing, disputes and the general well-being of the people who work for you.

When your employees feel like they have your ear, the entire team works together more efficiently, and you take one step closer to your goals.

We all need a little help and advice now and again when we’re faced with making big decisions in our business, particularly as the world faces the huge changes and unheard-of challenges we’re seeing at the moment.

Your team is your business’ armor, its engine and its biggest support system. Put the necessary time and thought into choosing them. And if you’re not sure where to start, let’s talk.