When your small business grows to the point you need to hire a team of employees, be sure that the quality of your initial hires is on point in order to lay a solid blueprint upon which your company can grow — if you fail to construct the “right” team, your business’s growth can be severely stunted.
Take note of the following tips to build a small team that matches your company’s big ambitions:
1. Hire Employees for Specific Needs
Hire who you need, not who you think you might need. Once you identify exactly why you need a new employee, create a comprehensive job specification. A job spec will give you team clear work objectives, help create a productive work environment — and help your company grow in an efficient and hassle-free manner. For example, if your company’s figures are dwindling, you have to hire a quality salesperson to help boost those all-important sales numbers.
2. Make Sure Your Employees Fit Your Company’s Culture
If you’ve defined the way you want your company to function, you’ve got to make sure your employees adhere to that culture. The last thing you need during the early stages of your company’s growth is a troublesome employee who may damage your reputation.
Set all potential employees a short test to see if they can identify with and adapt to your company’s culture in order for you to narrow candidates down based on the highest point scorer. The same principle applies whether you’re hiring a “lower ranked” employee or you’re processing the appointment of a new director.
3. Only Hire People You Can Afford
Take caution when hiring a candidate who consistently demands a higher salary than your company can afford to pay. They might accept your offer initially, but their loyalty may be questioned as they’ll always be on the lookout for a higher-paying position.
As a result, they may not invest the effort and attention that your small business needs in order to progress. Therefore, it’s better to hire a content employee who is prepared to “learn as they grow” and is happy to be a part of a team’s wider goals.
What Happens When You’ve Made the Hire?
Once you’ve hired the right employees, it’s important to follow these tips to maintain a productive, quality team.
1. Set Clear Goals and Objectives
Set weekly or monthly goals for your employees to reach and reward them generously when they reach their targets. Goals and rewards act as an incentive for employees to work harder and also increase job satisfaction.
You could measure your employees’ performance against specific key performance indicators. Measuring performance allows you to determine if any of your work processes need attention. For instance, it could help to devise a detailed set of easy-to-follow guidelines for your staff. Or, you provide employees with extra resources to eliminate mistakes and work within a streamlined process.
2. Motivate Your Team
When you set goals and targets for your employees, make sure they are interesting and gratifying to accomplish. For example, you could hold a meeting with your team and encourage them to hit a set number of sales to become the best local sales team within the month.
Time-specific goals create a sense of urgency. Such goals are clear, well-defined, and designed to inspire. You need to reward each moment a team achieves its goals. A well-rewarded team will be motivated to achieve even more success.
3. Get Your Team Invested in Your Business
The difference between an employee and an employer is that the latter has an automatic vested interest in the business. Even if you have successfully implemented points one and two above, you need to ensure that your employees feel part of the company, rather than just a nominal employee. You could do this by obtaining employee feedback and opinions on business decisions. Your employees will feel encouraged to input more to the successful running of your business if they’re involved in something they helped to develop.
Conclusion
Vet all candidates thoroughly so you know you are hiring people who will conform to your company’s culture. If your new employee works well with others, you’ll end up with a successful team.
