When is the right time to recruit?

Are you full of ideas but struggle to implement them?

Whether you are just starting to grow or are in full growth mode, as a business owner I am sure you are always full of new ideas. Does your head continually buzz with all the possibilities, all the different ways that you can provide new products or services to your customers?

You are an ideas person, which is essential when you start and then grow a business; but a business needs more than ideas to be successful.? It needs people with complementary skills to yours.? People who are good at admin, are brilliant content writers or love working with numbers.

You will only get so far on your own, and yes I know employing people is a big step - I’ve been there; but with good planning and preparation as well as a structured process to follow you will be able to build a team that is aligned with your company’s culture and will support sustainable business growth.

So don’t stop having ideas, as that is where the magic happens.

Businesses need starters and finishers and unless you have gone into business with a partner, you are likely to be missing some essential skills to make your business successful.? Starters are likely to be bubbling with ideas, while finishers are focused and methodical.

Think about what skills you need to plug the gap.

It could be that you need support with something you don't have the skills for or simply don’t enjoy; freeing you up to do the stuff that is in your “zone of genius.”

Are you busy doing everything yourself and simply don’t have time to think?? It’s time to do a time audit.? This will really help show you where you are spending your time and what kind of additional help that you need.

Are you clear on your vision?

Once you have a clear idea of your vision and have spent some time on business planning; it is important to see how you are going to achieve your goals? and who will support you to do that.

So the first step is to review where you are at the moment.? Think about all the roles that you are doing or some of your team are currently doing. ? What are the gaps where you or your team don’t have the knowledge or expertise that you need to grow your business???

Can these areas be covered by commitment to some training or development or do you need to bring in additional expertise?

Think about what tasks only you can do.? These should be minimal as the majority can be done by others; and this will be essential to allow for growth.

What priorities have you highlighted on your business plan, and what actions will generate additional revenue?

Where do you want to be in 3 years time?

While there may be short term reasons for needing additional people in your team; if you are ambitious to grow to 7 figures you will need to think more strategically about who you need to help you get there.

In order to reach a 7 figure turnover, you need to ensure consistent sales growth and a good level of cash in the business.? So marketing is key.? It needs to be proactive and consistent. Think about who you will need in your team who will help you achieve this.

Most businesses will require additional funding at this stage of their growth.? Don’t let this hold you back.? If you have a viable business, a clear vision and a passion for what you do;? you will be successful providing you consistently market your business.

What do you need?

So you have decided that you need extra help.? Think about what exactly you need in order to accomplish your business goals faster?? This will enable you to use your time more effectively

Is it that you need to free up your own time by delegating some of the tasks that you are currently doing?? You will then be able to work on more strategic things.

Are you finding customers are being turned away because you are at full capacity? or the service level has dropped?? This means you need someone to help who has the same skills as you.

Do you want to expand your current product or service?? This is when you need complimentary skills to help with the expansion plans.

Do you need to achieve something that you don’t have the skill set for? You may need to bring someone in who can achieve this much more effectively than you would be able to do yourself.

So you need to be very clear on why you are bringing someone else into the team.

How do you like to work?

The other thing to consider? is how you work with your current team.? Who you work best with and enjoy working with and who you don’t.? You may find someone with the skills that you need but you have a personality clash which means you just can’t work with them.

Is now the right time?

When is the right time to employ?

There can be a number of reasons, but these are the most common reasons

The quality of the work is suffering

This often happens when you get busy, as you no longer have the time to spend with the customer as you are rushing to get to the next one and this can be fatal for many small businesses who are not prepared to delegate anything that they do

You're working long hours and worrying about the business all the time

Again this can be fatal as it will eventually lead to burn out

You’re ambitious to grow

This is when you are confident in your business model and are prepared to take some risk; and invest in the business so that you can get to the next level

Are you mentally ready?

This can be hard for new business owners, who set up in business because they love what they do and find it really hard to let go of doing the detailed stuff.? Many of these business owner are happy to be lifestyle businesses

Are you no longer passionate about your business?

This often happens when you are no longer doing the things that you enjoy, but end up doing the things you have to do which do not fill you with joy.??

Have you already tried recruiting but it hasn’t worked out?

When business owners recruit, especially those who are new to the hiring process or stretched thin, a few common mistakes tend to crop up. Here are the top three:

1. Recruit based on Immediate Need, Not Long-Term Fit

2. Skipping the Screening Process or Relying on Gut Instinct

3. Failing to Offer Clear Role Definitions and Expectations

By avoiding these pitfalls, business owners can create a more effective, streamlined hiring process that brings in team members who are well-suited for the job and the company’s future growth.

For more information on how to avoid these common mistakes as well as learning how outsourcing can be a a better option, download this FREE e-book: