One of the most daunting challenges as a business owner is building the right team around you. After all, it has been said that your employees are your best asset. (And whoever said that was smart).

Workplace volunteer programs are a great way to get employees engaged with their fellow workers. This builds a community bond within the company that keeps workers happy, motivated and loyal.

The HR industry’s been telling us for a while that money alone isn’t enough to motivate and engage employees. What works, then? In my experience, it’s about giving your employees a challenge, engaging and empowering them.

There are lots of amazing things about being the boss, but it does occasionally come with some downsides and, for me, these include having to have tough conversations with my employees. Normally I’m pretty informal and like to think that I get on with my team really well, which makes it even harder when I have to put on my ‘boss’ hat and have an official conversation with someone.

All managers have their own style and some are definitely more effective than others. Over the years I've come across quite a few different approaches -both from people who've managed me directly and, more recently, who I've worked with on projects. And while I've been inspired by some people's approaches, I've been less than impressed with others.

A good team is way more than the sum of its parts. Here are my thoughts on creating the environment and structures that help a great team dynamic to flourish.

The importance of team work is something most of us learn from an early age, and really shouldn’t be underestimated. Working collaboratively with colleagues can help initial seeds of an idea become a reality, and can help bring a new expertise to the table.

Whether employees sit one desk over, or telecommute from two thousand miles away, most companies have issues with internal communication. In fact, according to results from an Interact/Harris Poll, 91% of employees say communication issues can drag executives down.

Did you know that millennials (those aged between 18 and 34) now make up more than a third of the American workforce – making them the largest working generation? It’s a pretty staggering fact.

Hiring and firing. Neither are decisions I take lightly. If you hire the wrong people you risk upsetting the balance of your whole team, while firing someone obviously has serious consequences not just for the individual involved but for staff morale in general.