When it comes to running a business, at one point or another as your business grows, you may need to think about taking on staff. While the fact that your business has grown is naturally going to be a very exciting one, it’s also important to understand that when it comes to taking on team members there’s a lot that you need to think about and consider.

 

If the time has come to add some extra people to your team, it is essential not only choose the right candidates to take on board, but that you understand the implications of becoming an employer, as whether you have one team member on your book or 100, the title comes with a large amount of responsibility.

 

As a new employer, you often don’t know what steps you need to take to ensure that you’re being the best manager that you can be. That’s where this guide comes in – below are some useful tips and pieces of advice for employing staff for your small business.

 

Be a leader

 

I once heard a successful business owner tell a newer entrepeneur that to be a good boss you have to be a leader. He then explained that being the type of employer that your team members will look up to is about leading by example and not by dishing out demands. This conversation has always stuck with me and it’s the number one thing that as a business owner, I will always bear in mind, and so should you.

 

If you want your team members to respect you and enjoy coming to work, you need to lead by example. Don’t be that boss that demands their team members do this and that and then locks themselves away in their office, get involved in the day-to-day running of things. Be the kind of employer who has an open door policy where team members can come to you at any time to discuss anything.

 

Offer the perfect working environment

 

Another vital factor when employing staff is to create the ideal working environment. There are some working environments that it can be extremely difficult to work in, and others that are designed to offer the ideal workspace – ensure that you create a space that fits with your business and encourage your employees to perform to their full potential.

 

When it comes to productivity in the workplace, the perfect working environment is a key element of this. If you take the time to read guides on employee engagement, such as Thirsty Horses’ ebook on Employee Engagement, you will see how essential it is to get certain factors right. Taking these things seriously is imperative if you want to give your business the best chance for long-term success.

 

Work hard and also play hard

 

When it comes to being a good employer, introducing some fun into the office is a must. Yes, you want your staff to work productively and be fully engaged while at work, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t also take some time out with your team members.

 

Once a month plan a work night out or activity day where you and your colleagues spend some quality time together. This could simply be going for a meal or it could be a day out doing fun activities as a team – the more creative you can be with this, the better.

 

There you have it, a few useful tips for employing staff for your small business.