I'm at the point in my business where I really need to hire some part time help. Do you have any suggestions on how to make this go smoothly?

January 19 2005 - Syracuse Post Standard

Julie: If you have been doing everything by yourself up until now, the first step would be to create a chart outlining the various jobs required to run your company, along with a description of what the responsibilities are for each position. In the beginning, your name might be in every box, but to grow and expand you will need to replace yourself from the bottom up. Identifying each job and creating a job description for each is the first step to doing that. It will force you to start standardizing your procedures, which will make training your new employees much easier. The idea is to gradually go from working IN your business to working ON your business - from doing the technical work to focusing on the strategic work. We found it to be an invaluable exercise in managing the growth of our business, as well as helping us to provide a more consistent experience to our clients.

Ann Marie: Bringing someone into your small business is hard because you are entrusting someone with your "baby". I had many people (talent) working for me as independent contractors, so I put out the word to them that I was looking for part time help in the office. This allowed me to choose from people that I already knew and who had some knowledge of my business. This made training them so much easier.
For you this could be anyone from a supplier of your goods to a really good customer. Go backward, is there someone you worked with before you started your business that you respected and would trust to work for you? I also find that other business people are a good resource for finding good help. They may know someone that is looking for work. They have the same expectations that I do, so I trust them as a reference.

Tracy: After you have created job descriptions and researched potential employees through your network as Julie and Ann Marie have stated, don't forget to plan how you will keep your employees once you've hired them. The ability to attract and keep quality employees is critical to a company's success. Create a good working environment for your employees by making sure they know what is expected of them and what you expect in return. Schedule weekly meetings to discuss employee questions and to set weekly goals. Show signs of appreciation for good work. Ask your employees for input on company issues once they've worked for you for a couple months. I believe by making employees feel like they have an ownership in the company they work for, they will make a valuable contribution to the success of that business.