Running your small business is a whirlwind of activity, with days stretching into nights, weekends vanishing, and precious time with family and friends dwindling. It’s clear – the time has come to bring aboard your first employee. But where do you begin?
What Type of Assistance Do You Require?
Common wisdom often suggests hiring someone for routine tasks and customer interactions to free up the owner for strategic planning. However, this approach may not be the most effective utilization of your new resources. Your inaugural employee should be a complementary force, not a duplication of your skills. You need someone who bridges the gaps.
Perhaps you excel at handling customers, effortlessly conveying how your product or service benefits them and expertly closing deals. Outsourcing this crucial task might stifle your growth potential.
Considering how your first employee can impact your bottom line should be a crucial part of your decision-making process.
Other Factors to Consider When Hiring Your First Employee:
- Role Definition: Before embarking on the hiring process, meticulously define and document the role you wish to fill.
- Delegation: Be prepared to delegate authority and power when hiring; this is vital for the new employee’s effectiveness. Recognize that as the owner, you may only feel comfortable doing this in specific areas.
- Long-Term Planning: What’s your long-term vision? How soon do you anticipate hiring additional employees? The timeframe for future hires should influence the criteria for your first hire.
- Commitment: Embrace a long-term commitment to your new employee. This initial hire is an investment in the company’s future. Begin with a growth plan right from day one.
- Reevaluate Needs: Consider how your business’s needs and opportunities may evolve as you transition into an employer role.
Hiring your first employee signifies a significant step in your business’s growth. It not only demonstrates value in your products and services to you but also to the wider community. It’s a tangible sign of success in your sales efforts. Leverage this by sharing the news of your first hire and your company’s achievements.
The hiring of your first employee sets the tone for your business’s future. Take the time to contemplate your direction and the type of support that will propel you toward success.