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Growing a business is both challenging and rewarding. As your business expands, you’ll likely need to hire new team members to drive the next phase of growth, whether in sales, marketing, or administration. Hiring can be daunting for small business owners due to the risks involved, but with the right approach, you can set your new hires — and your business — up for success.
Effective communication is the foundation of a successful hire. Without it, new employees may struggle to perform or align with your team. Ensure regular, transparent communication to clarify how the business operates and where the new hire fits into your strategy.
New hires need a clear understanding of their role and what you expect from them in that role. While initiative is valuable, leaving them without direction can lead to unproductive work, causing frustration for both parties.
Set Expectations: Outline specific tasks and responsibilities from the start.
Allow Flexibility: Let hires adapt their approach to suit their strengths while staying productive. Without this basic level of individual autonomy, it’s only a matter of time before they start to get itchy feet!
Avoid Cloning: While you might firmly believe that “your way works”, you need to recognise that new hires won’t replicate your unique style, especially in sales or marketing and provide a framework that supports their individuality.
Goals give new hires purpose and direction. Ensure they understand what they’re working toward and why it matters to the business.
Align with Business Objectives: Goals should contribute to overall business success.
Use Measurable KPIs: Agree on a small set of ambitious yet achievable key performance indicators.
Share Context: Provide regular updates on business objectives and progress, even if financial details are sensitive.
Create a Dashboard: Use a simple reporting tool to track key metrics, celebrate achievements and identify areas for improvement.
Encourage new hires to develop their skills and stay current with industry trends, particularly in dynamic fields like sales and marketing. By granting team members the time and space to think being simply ‘doing’ their job, they can take ownership of finding better ways to be productive.
Support Professional Growth: Allocate time for webinars, courses, or brainstorming sessions.
Focus on Practical Application: Ensure new skills translate into tangible business benefits.
Build Responsibility: Autonomy fosters a sense of ownership, benefiting both the employee and the business.
Equipping new hires with appropriate tools is critical, but avoid unnecessary expenses. Software subscription costs can mount quite quickly – it’s important to be aware of the roles that different tools fulfill and how they might overlap with other tools in use.
Evaluate Software Needs: Assess whether new tools (e.g., SEMRush for SEO) complement existing systems or add value.
Avoid Overlap: Ensure software subscriptions enhance productivity without redundancy.
Plan for Costs: Factor tool expenses into your hiring budget.
Employees want to feel valued and part of a successful team. Regular recognition boosts morale and motivation. N.B. There is a caveat though – the recognition needs to be applied fairly and consistently, otherwise it can have the opposite effect on team dynamics.
Offer Feedback: Provide constructive feedback and spontaneous praise when warranted.
Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge individual and team achievements to reinforce a positive culture.
Nurture Talent: Retain high performers by offering growth opportunities and fair compensation. A balanced value exchange increases retention.
Hiring is a critical step in scaling a small business, but it comes with risks. By prioritising clear communication, defining responsibilities, setting measurable goals, fostering autonomy, providing the right tools and valuing their contributions, you can help new hires thrive and drive your business forward. Thoughtful onboarding and ongoing support will minimise risks and maximise the rewards of expanding your team.
