In order to run a successful business, you may require staffing in the areas of social media marketing, traditional marketing, talent management, operations, finance, technology, manufacturing, distribution, and content creation. You might even require a business attorney, intellectual property attorney, production/video team, and public relations firm.
Do you have a challenging personality that some call overwhelming, over-bearing and intimidating? Do you have perfectionistic tendencies? Do you get annoyed at people who possess tremendous talent but sit in mediocrity? Well, you are not alone! The good news is that dealing with all of these professionals and their personalities face to face is not necessary.
Hiring Productivity Warriors!
I knew that I might stress someone out with my perfectionist tendencies, so I hired a virtual team. This has worked out very well because when you hire virtual employees, the only thing you have to look at are the results!
I’ve discovered that it is best to work with people who love their business! If you have to motivate your employee – You have made a hiring mistake. My first hire was a project manager who was responsible for hiring my team. I advised her to look for individuals who exhibited the following leadership traits:
- Integrity
- Initiative and Decisiveness
- Accountability and Responsibility
- A deep understanding of the business
- Consistency
- Willingness to admit a mistake
- The ability to listen
- 5 Star Customer service skills
I told her that I wanted the folks that other people labeled arrogant, drama queens/kings, high maintenance, and know-it-alls. Why? Because they normally have perfectionistic tendencies also and they don’t rest until the job is done with excellence!
I rewarded them when they discovered problems in my business, because this “critical” eye saved my company money in the long run. Begin today to run your business like a business. Hire the best and you will build a solid business foundation. I am honored that these people are so passionate about the building of my brand. I am thankful that they won’t stop at delivering anything less than 5 star service.
TAKE ACTION I highly recommend reading Michael Gerber’s book “E-Myth Mastery”. For starters, please take his advice and draw out an organizational chart to include job description and responsibilities. This single step will help you tremendously as it relates to clarifying your value proposition to a prospective client.
In today’s fast-paced business environment, entrepreneurial leaders need a broad perspective, vision, and acute awareness of the trends and developments shaping their organization. They must know how to be a leader of leaders, a teacher of teacher.
At E3Woman we teach practical "how-to" leadership skills that create high-performing individuals and teams. Visit http://www.e3woman.com/services/ to schedule a business development session with Kadena. Let’s discuss how you can build a world-class organization.
Kadena Tate is a creative visionary, a change agent. Kadena uses coaching, consulting, speaking and training to help entrepreneurs leapfrog the market and make the competition irrelevant. When ready to convert your ideas into income, visit Kadena at http://www.E3Woman.com
The eight leadership traits you mention are traits I look for in any person I associate with! Surround yourself with the best. It's good to know that those same traits will be useful when I'm ready to hire some help. As usual, great post!
I take to heart the idea that our mindset, relationships, environment and skill set largely determine whether or not we are positioned for success for the achievement of our goals. In my opinion, these goals must be for the highest good of all involved. Thank you Erika for the warm compliment and feedback
What a great post about hiring practices and the necessity of hiring quality people who will and have the want of helping you succeed. The TAKE ACTION section is awesome, because charts and outlines can make a person achieve their goal. Just love it. Also, the book suggestion sounds like a good read and must get it to enhance my knowledge!
Thank you Jewel for your candor. Michael Gerber’s “E-Myth” was the first book that expanded my paradigm about the entrepreneurial mindset. Writing an organizational chart, complete with job descriptions was a time-consuming task – however – a necessary one that helped me gain absolute clarity about what skills were actually required to build out my brand. Wishing you continued success.
Sometimes people hesitate to hire free lance work, but you are spot on with the benefits and getting the results. The advice to hire the drama kings & queens, etc. took me by surprise – but great point!
Kathryn, thank you for your candor in expressing surprise. Often, people look at me and say “yeah right”. What they overlook are the benefits: (a) they are virtual (b) I hired a project manager skilled in conflict resolution to oversee the project and (c) like myself, they have perfectionist tendencies will do not allow you to rest until the job ‘with your name on it’ is done ‘right’.
Hiring the right team members is an important job. If people don't work well together that could spell disaster for the team.
For some going the virtual assistant route might be the way to go especially now that you can find virtual assistance in almost every field.
Jennifer, managing people and their personalities was the last thing that I wanted to deal with as I work on building brand presence. I’ve discovered that hiring other entrepreneurs, freelance artists and vendors afforded me an opportunity to focus on the results. Each person clearly understands that productivity is required and they are compensated for the value that they bring to the table. It is amazing to see the creativity of empowered people who’ve taken control fo their mindsets, skillsets and relationships. Thank you for your continued support.
I’ve always had trouble with the know-it-alls. Especially if they know all about how things won’t work, can’t work or will never work. Experts are another matter entirely. Coincidentally, I was writing about <a href="http://www.brandingblog.com/2012/01/soundbites-fire-fast-hire-slow/"getting rid of unhappy people on the same day you were writing about productivity.
Rather than hire someone to create content, people should try podcasting and then re-purposing the audio into other forms. It’s hard for an employee to ghost write for a passionate business owner.
Dave! Thank you so much for taking the time to post! Love your article! Great tips!