When Should I Hire (Are you ready for your first employee?)
Are you starting to feel a little overwhelmed in your coaching business? Like maybe there’s just too much on your plate and you’re wondering if it’s time to bring someone else on board? If so, then this episode is for you!
Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s near and dear to my heart: hiring and expanding your team. When I first started out, I never imagined I’d be having this conversation with you. I mean, I never even dreamed that I’d have a team of people working with me, both employees and contractors. But here we are!
One of the most common questions I get asked is, “How do I know when it’s the right time to hire?” And that’s exactly what I’m going to help you answer today. I’ll share my own experiences, both the good and the bad, and give you some tips on how to make the hiring process as smooth as possible.
First things first, let’s talk about my hiring mistakes. I’ve definitely made my fair share of them. I’ve hired too quickly, I’ve hired the wrong people, and I’ve even waited too long to hire. But you know what? Each of those mistakes taught me something valuable, and they’ve made me a better hirer today.
Key Takeaways:
- The ideal hiring time may be sooner than you think if you’re already feeling overwhelmed.
- Be thorough in the hiring process by avoiding rushed decisions, unclear job descriptions, and inadequate training.
- Have a solid organizational structure, project management tools, communication channels, financial readiness, and detailed SOPs in place before bringing new hires on board.
- Identify the right roles to fill and match their skill sets to your needs.
- Delegate tasks by identifying what can be outsourced, matching tasks to the skills of your hires, grouping similar tasks, and providing clear instructions.
- Keep core business functions like strategic planning, major decision-making, direct client interactions, and personal branding in-house.
- Create a clear job description, use multiple channels to find candidates, conduct thorough interviews, vet candidates with reference checks, make competitive offers, and provide structured onboarding.
Mistakes to Avoid when Hiring
When hiring, common mistakes include rushing the process, lacking clear job descriptions, not setting expectations, insufficient training, ignoring cultural fit, and failing to provide feedback. These missteps can lead to poor hires, inefficiency, and higher turnover.
Indicators that You Should Hire
Signs that you should consider hiring include an overwhelming workload, business growth, missing opportunities, and spending too much time on repetitive tasks. Recognizing these indicators can help ensure your business continues to run smoothly and grow.
What You Must Have in Place Before You Hire
Before hiring, ensure you have a clear organizational structure, project management tools, effective communication channels, financial readiness, and detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs). These elements help integrate new hires efficiently and maintain consistency in operations.
Choosing the Right Person to Hire
Choosing the right hire involves identifying initial roles like a Virtual Assistant (VA) or Online Business Manager (OBM), matching skill sets to tasks, reviewing experience and track record, and ensuring cultural fit. This process ensures that new hires align well with your business needs and values.
What to Consider on Task Delegation
When delegating tasks, consider identifying tasks suitable for delegation, matching tasks to the skills of your hires, grouping similar tasks, providing clear instructions, and monitoring progress. Effective task delegation improves efficiency and allows you to focus on strategic activities.
What Not to Delegate?
Certain tasks, including direct client interactions, core business functions like strategic planning and major decision-making, and personal branding and content creation, should not be delegated. Keeping these tasks in-house ensures they are handled with the necessary expertise and personal touch.
The Hiring Process
The hiring process includes crafting a clear job description, finding candidates through various channels, conducting thorough interviews, vetting candidates with reference checks, making a competitive offer, and providing a structured onboarding process. This systematic approach ensures you hire the right person and integrate them effectively into your team.
Conclusion
The decision to hire should be a strategic and well-considered move for any business owner. Ultimately, the right time to hire is when your business demands exceed your current capacity, and you have the infrastructure in place to support and integrate new team members effectively. By making informed hiring decisions, you can drive growth, enhance service quality, and focus on strategic initiatives to take your business to the next level.
– Gain confidence in your abilities to support clients, learn how to communicate effectively, and build a framework that supports your marketing and messaging efforts. Visit the Framework Builder Lab.
– Book a time to chat with me and we can talk more about what’s holding you back, where you want to be at amanda-walker.com/letschat.
