How to find the right people for your team

One of the most valuable things I've learned in business is how to build an indispensable team.

I've worked with many virtual assistants, graphic designers, copywriters, and organizers over the past several years, and right now I feel like I've assembled a great team that works really well with me and together.

I'll admit, it takes practice! I've had a lot of trial and error in my hiring decisions.

I can tell you this: Having a strong team can make or break your business. It can mean the difference between a strong, thriving company that's constantly growing and improving, and a business that can barely break even each month. A good team is EVERYTHING.

Building a great team is about finding team members, making smart hiring decisions, and keeping them around.

Here's what I've learned from years of hiring different professionals in my business and how I know when I've struck gold.

Finding great team members: Ask for referrals from people you trust.

Google searches for “virtual assistant” are great, but there's nothing like a glowing recommendation from a colleague you respect.

When you want to hire, always start by asking around. I've had much better luck finding awesome people through referrals than just by posting calls for applicants in Facebook groups. I'm not saying you CAN'T find good people in Facebook groups, but it's a lot easier to start with referrals, and I've had way better results that way.

Hiring great team members: Interview them

Once you've found someone you think may be a great fit, contact them to book a chat. Ask if you can buy a few hours of their time to work on a test project for you. See if you both “click” and if you like talking with them. A few things to look for:

• They come prepared. They have done the research on you and your business.
• They have ideas and suggestions about your business.
• They ask questions.
• They do what they say they'll do, when they say they'll do it.
• If they say they'll send you deliverables by Tuesday, they send them by Tuesday.
• They keep in touch and communicate
• If for some reason they can't have them by Tuesday, they let you know as far in advance as possible.
• They aren't afraid to ask questions if they aren't sure about something. Trust me, it's better when they ask a lot until they understand than when they end up having to redo a task or even a whole project!
• You can tell they care about you and your business
• You'd happily have lunch or coffee with them. It's best to work with people who could also be your friends. It's just more fun that way and communication tends to be better when you actually like talking with one another!

Keeping great team members

Ideally, your team is your business family! Get to know them. Make sure to take a little time during your meetings to see how they're doing and what's going on in their lives. I even like to send my new hires a little questionnaire so I can start this on the right foot and gain more insights.

Tell them you appreciate them and when they've done a good job. Send little gifts for birthdays and holidays. Little gestures like this go a long way in building a tightly-knit team that gets shit done, and has a great time doing it!

I understand that hiring and working with a team can be overwhelming, especially if you need a lot of different tasks. I also know that it is worth the time and effort that is required. My team is the most valuable part of my business. They do so much to grow our business and my clients' businesses as well!

Does this sound like you? If you need a bunch of different tasks completed, but don't feel like hunting down a variety of different team members, we can help. I can help you manage your operations, and I can bring my own awesome team along!

If you're ready for serious business growth, let's talk. Schedule a time here.