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A guest post by Tina Martin.
A business, regardless of size, is an amalgamation of various processes, tasks, and workflows that all serve a distinct purpose in the greater scheme of things and are, therefore, each important, one way or the other. In most cases, all these can be too much for just a few people to do. Moreover, if your business is growing, you may invariably find that there is, in fact, a need to expand your workforce—not to just to maintain efficiency, but also to minimize your stress and reduce the time you spend working.
It’s very fortunate, indeed, that with today’s modern technology, it’s a lot easier to get the hands you need on deck—plus it’s become so much more cost-effective to hire people. So without further ado, here’s how you can take action and get the manpower you truly need to keep things moving smoothly for your business.
Take stock of your business needs.
First thing’s first—before you can find people to help you, you need to determine what it is exactly that you need help with. With this in mind, it’s definitely wise to take a step back and look at the big picture that is your business. Consider the various aspects of how it is run and sustained, and identify inefficiencies or even just as opportunities for improvement. These can, in fact, be anything from bookkeeping to a website upgrade, so make sure to leave no stone unturned as help is just within reach.
Hire the right people.
Once you have a better understanding of the assistance and manpower that the business needs, you will want to make sure that you add the right people to your team. No doubt, among the questions foremost in your mind will be whether to hire employees or independent contractors. Of course, each option has its virtues and setbacks, so you’ll definitely want to take the time to weigh them, as well as your actual needs. Remember, your accountant and the offices of Andrew M. Ayers P.C. can provide you with professional advice for your particular circumstances.
Case in point, there may be tasks or projects that you need help with on a part-time or temporary basis, making an independent contractor or remote freelancer the better choice in keeping your overhead low. Hiring freelancers is simple enough, too. With the right job board, you can easily connect with top freelancers of various specialties, so whether it’s a graphic or web designer that you need or a virtual assistant, you’re sure to find reliable and experienced candidates.
Of course, you’ll also want to properly vet freelancers in order to find the best person for your remote team. So as a rule, make sure to check previous work and references to get a feel of their competencies, style, and experience. Better yet, take the time to interview candidates, preferably on video when doing so remotely, to better assess if they will be a great fit for your remote team.
Make effective collaboration the norm.
Finally, with freelancing and remote work becoming more and more common, you will likely find yourself in a position where you need to manage a team of people who are working together in all ways except physically. This can be as tricky as it sounds, but the fact is, it’s not at all impossible with good communication and healthy collaboration.
Thankfully, remote work collaboration is now easier than ever, thanks to technology. It will serve you, your business, and your team well, indeed, to make use of apps like Slack to communicate and collaborate effectively. You can also take advantage of features like team- and/or project-specific channels for better organization, as well as create news feeds to effectively disseminate vital information throughout the company.
Suffice to say, getting adequate and appropriate help is among the secrets to sustaining your business and growing your bottom line. And the best part is, you won’t even have to maintain the costly overhead of full-time employees or a physical workspace as freelancers and remote work tools more than take up the slack. It’s a wonderful time for businesses, indeed, so make sure to make the most of it.
Tina stays busy as a life coach and works hard to help herself and her clients achieve a healthy work-life balance.