How to Build a Team Culture with Shelby Pitzel

Shelby started her bookkeeping business in 2017. Prior to starting the business, Shelby was the CEO/CFO of a manufacturing company, but once she got pregnant she realized that what she really wanted was the freedom to be at home with her new family.

[2:55] The freedom to create her own schedule and have the flexibility to be there for her family and friends is Shelby’s favorite part of the bookkeeping business.

[4:20] The biggest challenge with the transition from the manufacturing company to a bookkeeping business has been creating a culture and a team digitally. Shelby currently serves seven clients with a goal to serve eleven by the end of the year. The reasoning behind that is increasing revenue, but it also aligns with her main motivation of being able to help people.

[6:50] Shelby has one employee at the moment that comes into her home office once a week. Future employees will be virtual only.

[8:00] There are pros and cons to having a virtual team. If you want to create a positive culture you have to be intentional about it. Shelby does enjoy being able to see her team face-to-face, but the benefits of a virtual team is that it opens up your business to the world.

[10:00] When hiring and developing your team, hire slow. Have your processes down before you start to bring on people. People will not solve a workload issue without processes in place; they will only make the problem worse.

[11:15] Never stop looking for great people, always be planting the seeds when talking to people, and when you discover someone who might make a good fit, keep them in mind for the future. Upwork is a great platform for finding a virtual team member and you can bring them on slowly with a commitment of only a few hours a week to start.

[13:55] You will pay a little more by using Upwork in the short term, but you will be saving money in the long term. One of the most expensive mistakes you can make is hiring wrong. This arrangement allows you to build the relationship before you bring them onto the team officially.

[15:00] The employee can have the best skill set in the world, but if they don’t believe in what you believe about your business, it’s going to be very difficult.

[15:30] Your vision doesn’t have to be formally created, just writing it down on a sheet of paper is sufficient. When people come to interview with you, share your vision for the business so they can understand what you’re trying to achieve and what you believe is important to the business.

[18:00] All your vision is for naught if you aren’t working with likeminded people. If they don’t share the core belief system that you do and aren’t looking for the same things, they aren’t your people.

[18:45] Since Shelby does like working with people in a physical space, it’s totally possible for her to hire locally. Being able to get together face to face and sharing a meal is an excellent way to build that connection and relationship with your team. She can also reap the benefits of working virtually even if she does hire locally.

[22:15] Shelby’s current focus for her business is nailing down a niche. Three of her clients share similar characteristics and personalities and they may become the model she uses to find more clients and define her business.

[23:40] Another important point is to keep in mind the tasks that you enjoy doing. Knowing that will help you figure out exactly what tasks you want to delegate to a team member first.

[25:15] There is no such thing as overcommunication. Email is okay, phone is better, in person is the best. Don’t swamp your team with meetings, but always stay in touch, especially when you are working virtually.

Mentioned in the episode: EntreScore Bookkeeping Solutions, LLC