In an ever-changing world, the ability to grow and adapt as a business owner has never been more important. Whether it’s navigating global challenges or responding to shifts in the marketplace, thriving businesses share a common thread: a commitment to challenging the status quo, fostering alignment and building a culture of accountability.
At our recent Harold Sharp team Away Day, we invited Karl Morris, a leading high performance business coach, to share his insights around growth mindset with our team. Karl has dedicated over two decades to working with business owners, leaders and their teams, to build and drive profitable businesses. Much of the content from his session is relevant to ambitious SMEs.
In today’s blog, we distil Karl’s insights into five key areas of focus for business owners looking to galvanise their team to drive sustained growth.
- Cultivate a curious mindset
Great leaders are not defined by what they know but by their willingness to learn. A curious mindset means challenging assumptions, embracing uncertainty, and asking better questions. By removing limiting language such as “I already know this,” you open yourself and your team to new possibilities.
What might this look like within an organisation?
- Leading by example – asking questions that challenge conventional wisdom.
- Fostering an environment where team members feel able to explore and innovate.
- Regularly reflecting on how you can approach problems differently.
- Ask the right questions
Growth is often unlocked by asking questions that shift perspectives. This means moving beyond surface-level inquiries to dig deeper into areas that matter most.
This may sound like:
- How can we do this better?
- What are we missing?
- What assumptions are we making? Are they accurate?
Empowering your team to think critically and seek opportunities within challenges will help your business remain resilient.
- Foster accountability
Accountability begins at the top. As a business owner, your leadership sets the tone for the entire organisation. Embracing a mindset of ownership, accountability and responsibility is essential – not just when things go well, but particularly when they don’t. Taking ownership of mistakes, learning from them and moving forward demonstrates integrity and resilience. Without this proactive approach, businesses risk fostering a culture of excuses, blame and denial, which can lead to stagnation and create a difficult-to-break cycle.
How can you look to embed accountability in your team?
- Clearly define and communicate personal and business goals. It may seem like a small action, but a Harvard Business study showed that the top 3% of performers across the planet have their personal and business goals written down and clearly communicated.
- Encourage transparency by having team members share their progress and challenges. Getting to know your team on a deeper level can help drive collaboration by improving your understanding of what makes them tick.
- Reinforce the value of small, consistent actions – think 1% better each day.
- Align your team with values and vision
When a team is aligned with a shared purpose, remarkable things happen. As a leader, it’s crucial to articulate the “why” behind your vision and ensure your values resonate throughout the organisation.
Practical steps include:
- Regularly revisiting your mission and values with your team. These must be made meaningful in some way, guiding your team every day.
- Encouraging team collaboration and unity by focusing on common objectives.
- Understand what drives your team
Every team member has unique strengths, motivators and aspirations. Knowing what inspires your people will not only improve performance, but also foster loyalty and engagement.
Make time to:
- have one-on-one conversations to uncover personal goals and drivers.
- recognise and celebrate individual contributions.
- create opportunities for growth and development that align with team members’ ambitions.
What needs to change?
Business growth is not about revolutionary changes but rather consistent, incremental improvements. Karl’s messaging consistently comes back to the same theme – small adjustments can lead to transformational outcomes. By fostering curiosity, accountability and alignment, you build a foundation for long-term success.
So, take a moment to reflect:
- Are you challenging the way you think?
- Are you asking the right questions?
- Is your team aligned and empowered to achieve the vision you’ve set?
The answers to these questions could unlock your next stage of growth.
About Karl Morris, Action Coach
Karl is an award-winning Business & Executive Coach and Team Performance Trainer. He has dedicated over two decades to working with business owners, leaders and their teams, to build and drive profitable businesses.
Email: karlmorris@actioncoach.com
Website: https://actioncoach.co.uk/karlmorris