The difference between being self employed and being a business owner is an employee.
Being your own boss, setting your own hours, and choosing your own customers are some of the big draws for Self Employment. But if you intend to grow from being self employed into being a business owner then employees will form the backbone of your new company.
Because a business owner should be able to step away from the business and have it continue to run like clockwork.
That’s why getting it right and hiring the best people is vital to your company’s health. While there are many ways employees can make your business thrive, there are 3 key ways employees can kill your business.
Attitude:
Your company culture sets the tone for how your customers perceive you. What are their impressions of your staff at every interaction? Are your employees giving the level of service you expect?
The way your employees feel about their jobs and their role in the business will affect the way they interact with your customers. Think of a time when you walked into a business and felt like the employees were unhappy. Did you feel appreciated and want to go back?
That undercurrent of dissatisfaction can and will be felt by your customers. You owe it to yourself to figure out the source of any anger or dissatisfaction among your staff and resolve it. Realistically they may not be honest with you, so consider bringing in outside help to get to the bottom of the problems.
Square Peg, Round Hole:
Everyone wants to do work that interests them. That caters to their skill set. That they can be successful at. Unfortunately, many business owners make the mistake of hiring someone less qualified or experienced to save a few dollars an hour.
I say unfortunately, because most of the time this is a detriment to both the employee and your company. You end up with an employee who can not be successful in filling their role, and an employer who spends a lot more time overseeing their work than they should be. A staff member who doesn’t feel confident in their job is going to spend a lot of time looking for their next position. They already have one foot out the door.
Focus on finding the ideal candidate for your business, and then pay them what they’re worth. A great employee will not only do the job you hired them to do, they may become active innovators in the growth of your business.
Lack of Oversight:
Even the best employees still require supervision. Adequate supervision can be difficult for businesses that have employees dispatched across the city. It’s vital to know where your employees are and what they’re doing, especially if they’re using a company truck (If this is you, consider an app like JOBBER). The way they drive and behave reflects directly on your brand so being able to check in on and employee is doubly important.
The same goes for staff in an office or retail location. They represent you with every customer interaction, so checking in and verifying the service is up to your standards is important. Look to incorporate systems and technology into your business to allow your to check on what’s happening without becoming Big Brother.
With the right employees, and the right systems, your business can run like a well oiled machine without you. And you can get busy building the next one!
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