Entrepreneurs must be engaging and involved team leaders for their business to survive in the startup world.  Unfortunately, many founders of startup companies may be experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team.  However, team and relationship building is a skill that can be learned and practiced by those willing to put in the effort.

Follow these four tips for developing team relationships and building engaged team members, even if your team is spread out all over the country:

• Schedule time with your team.  Running your own company can take up a lot of your time, but even the busiest entrepreneur must schedule some time with his or her team.  These times must be regular and predictable so that your employees will be devoted and engaged with what is happening within the company.  Possibly an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon may be enough, if you make it happen consistently.

• Have monthly feedback for each team member. Your employees need feedback, much more frequently and informally than the annual performance review.  A monthly 30 minute informal meeting, as well as updates on objectives and performance, is a great way to give feedback to one of your team members.  Be sure to ask what you can do for them in every review.
• Recognize team members for individual efforts. Communicate individual results as well as team results to everyone.  Most leaders don’t say “thank you” enough, which can really go a long way.   Recognition is often more motivational than monetary rewards.  This is the time to talk about success and what’s in store for the future and what’s everyone’s role in the team.

• Be genuine in every interaction. If you are not, your team will see right through it and you will be worse off than if you stayed locked up in your office. Make sure you’re treating all team members as you would want to be treated. Be genuinely interested in learning something new every day from your team and they will follow you.

It’s not only your connection with the team, but their connection with each other that is critical. Only a dedicated leader can spot those special powers in each member and then build a well-oiled team which can win the startup war for you. Now your personal leadership becomes business leadership, which can actually change the world.