Building a Team for Your Business

Your new employees should complement you and the other employees. If you get frustrated with details and are not a "numbers person," hire someone who understands financial statements and has some background in the financial industry. If you are a numbers guru and lack the creative talent necessary to market your product or service, look to hire someone that has experience in advertising or marketing to help promote your business.

All of your employees should be able to handle multiple tasks and have the desire to learn. And they should all have some sales skills. Every person in a startup - from the assistants to the president - needs to be able to sell the product or service to those that they meet. Each of your employees should be a walking promotion for your business.

Spending the appropriate amount of time to find the right individuals to become part of your team is essential to the success of your business. There are many ways to find the best employees: word of mouth, hiring agencies, ads in your local newspaper, job web sites or even flyers you can post yourself.One of the most frustrating problems every small business owner experiences is lack of staff to handle the ever-increasing workload. Explosive company growth is fantastic, but you must be able to handle this growth without overtaxing your current staff. Don't rush out and hire anyone that can fill the role, but rather find the best individuals to fill your openings in a timely manner. It is imperative not to compromise your requirements and standards by bringing someone in too soon. Finding the right balance between growth, hiring the right people and keeping your current staff is one key to maintaining your business.

Finding qualified employees

Where do you find qualified workers? While many companies still rely on help wanted ads in the local newspaper, the best employees are increasingly finding jobs online. One of the most effective ways to located qualified employees is to use an electronic recruiting service, which screens a database of job seekers to find those candidates whose interests and qualifications match your available position.

Creating vested interest in the company

It is essential to give your employees a vested interest in the success of your business. In many companies today, employees feel unimportant, and that they have nothing to gain from the success of the firm. That's why bonuses, ESOP plans, and other incentives should be part of every business. When individuals have tangible reasons to work harder, they are more likely to share your enthusiasm and desire for the company to succeed. It is amazing how much effort, initiative and intensity people are willing to provide when they have a stake in the outcome.

Employees should have other incentives besides money to work hard and give back to the business; your employees should enjoy what they're doing. Create a friendly and caring atmosphere at work with special benefits for your employees. Sometimes a little perk can create an incredible atmosphere of warmth and friendliness. Whether you try casual days, birthday cakes, family days, pet days, surprise bonuses, pizza parties or special days off, do something different at work to make your employees feel like they are part of a company that cares about them. An atmosphere of caring isn't confined just to little perks: sponsor local community events, send employees back for continuing education, recognize the families of your employees. These extra touches will create a positive working atmosphere that will have you and the rest of your team looking forward to coming to work every day.

Important employee responsibilities

An important part of managing your business is relinquishing responsibility to others. Giving employees significant responsibility not only makes them feel important, but also frees up time so you can focus on growing your business. It can be very difficult to let go of certain tasks that you have performed from day one; however, being a manager means delegating responsibility in the most efficient manner, allowing you to spend time on the core areas of the business. Releasing the operational and financial aspects of the business will allow you to focus on future initiatives and other opportunities in the marketplace.

Utilize your employees to the best of their abilities. Push employees to expand their horizons and learn about different aspects of the company. Encourage them to form goals that will advance their professional abilities and make a significant impact on the company. Reward your employees for doing well, providing an idea for a project or working longer hours to finish particular projects. Recognizing the efforts of your employees is an important part of creating a strong bond of respect and communication.

Always keep the lines of communication open and encourage employees to come up with new ideas and suggestions, even on topics not directly related to what they are doing. Keep your employees in the loop. In many growing companies, employees often feel in the dark about the way the business is growing. This can result in an uneasy and speculative workforce and even drive individuals to leave the company. Keep your employees feeling like they are an integral part of the team by actively communicating with them, encouraging them to take their skills to the next level, giving them important responsibilities within the business and letting them know they are important to the company and to you personally.

o How will you delegate responsibilities in a way that will allow you to focus on the core areas of your business?