Starting a new business is no easy task, especially if you haven’t done it before. Most new business owners don’t realise just how much work goes into a business. Although it may seem straightforward at first glance, in reality it’s much harder.
One of the most difficult responsibilities a new employer has, is putting together a strong team. It’s not easy to find the right people, which is why extra care needs to be taken.
When it comes to new businesses, the first few months can make or break them. Without a good team, you’re never going to succeed.
There are many things you need to consider before hiring anyone. Don’t make the mistake of going into the process without prior research.
No plan
Many new employers fail to see the importance of having a solid plan, opting instead to hire people randomly. This is a bad idea.
When starting a new business, you need a strong plan to make it work. The same applies for employing people. Spend some time making a list of all the values you want your workers to have. This will give you a good starting point for interviews and choosing the right people to join the team.
The right skills are important and so is experience. These however, can often be taught. Try to see the potential in all the people you interview, instead of focusing solely on experience.
Expectations
Expecting a certain level of effort from your employees is normal. It’s important to remember not to overdo it however. Many new employers forget that they’re staff are only human. They will make mistakes, so be patient with them.
It takes a couple of weeks for a person to fully settle in at a new job. Before you fire them, give them some time to adjust and get in the swing of things.
Understanding that it takes time to learn how your business is run is important. Everyone learns at a different pace, so give each employee at least a few weeks to settle in.
Being fair
As a new business you are likely doing all you can to save money. This is understandable, as it can be difficult for a small business at first. That doesn’t mean that you can stop paying your employees.
By hiring people you enter into a contract protecting both parties. As long as the other party sticks to their part of the deal, you are obliged to pay them.
Being fair is very important when building a connection with your team. You don’t want to be seen as a mean boss who doesn’t pay wages. Reputation is everything, so keep that in mind at all times.
There are various tools out there to help you manage if you’re struggling. Things like the salary benchmarking guide by Croner and many other similar tools are all available to you.
Take time if necessary and compile a list of tools you might find useful. This is a great way for employers who tend to be a little disorganised to keep track of everything.
Suggestions
A small trick that always work is putting in a suggestion box in the office. Employees like to feel like they’re being listened to. Making sure that you listen to their suggestions and ideas is a great way of building trust and loyalty.
A suggestion box is virtually costless to implement, yet it can have great effects on office morale. Encourage your staff to speak out. If they feel a particular way about an issue, embrace it and see what you can do about it.
All relationships work both ways. Your employee’s trust and respect needs to be earned. By working together as one entity, you can achieve incredible things with a small team of trustworthy workers.
Having fun
Working is stressful, which is why it’s crucial to lighten things up occasionally. Nobody likes to be worked to death. Realise the importance of having fun and you will get your employees on your side.
Although it’s crucial to remain hardworking, a fun atmosphere around the office can make a difference. Something as simple as putting the radio on can have an impact on people’s mood.
Happy people tend to work a lot harder, so put some extra effort in to make your team feel like they’re having fun whist working.
As a new employer you will struggle. That’s okay however, as this is merely a part of the learning process. If you’re honest to yourself and your employees about the goals you want to achieve, you will end up fine. Be realistic and have fun and you’ll have a much better time running a successful business.
This article was provided by ellie jo