Setting Clear Expectations For New Hires

"Relax. We got it under control".

As a small business owner, making the migration from one’s basement to a new office is a journey, to say the least.

It starts with a vision, followed by implementation, and then by execution.Well, on paper the process sounds simple, but there is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to getting your new business to the point of where it is functioning properly.

Like many business owners, we make a lot of money in the field from sales calls, to deliveries, to installations, to service, etc. It suddenly dawns on us, while we are away from the office, who is going to run it on our behalf?

Let’s really talk about this. — Be advised many of the articles here on Source Blogger stem from REAL WORLD situations and PERSONAL EXPERIENCE — not hyperbole.

Office Operation In Your Absence

Remember when you were a young kid in school? The teacher would have to step out of the classroom for just a few moments… oh,  how the tone in the classroom would suddenly change!  Kids would start talking, throwing paper, spitting spit balls, dancing, singing, etc. Until the teacher walked in! Kids would instantly stiffen up and act like  the angels they purported to be, right?

“I know that wasn’t this class making all that noise, was it?” — No, Ms. Rittenour!

Yeah, sure it wasn’t. The teacher knew. Just as us business owners know what happens when we are away.

With downsizing and people having to “wear more hats,” employees are besieged with more responsibility than ever. This is a real “downer” because it cuts into their time for vending machine runs, smoking breaks, reading on the toilet, and Facebook updates. One day someone is going to calculate all the dollars that businesses pay for tolerating this type of misbehavior.

Are you looking for the Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, Sales Administrator, Receptionist, Accounting Clerk, HR Clerk, and Parts Shipper? — Well, that’s easy! It’s now all the same person!! — But, still… the same person.

Structure vs. Autonomy

Assuming a new role in an existing business means you are adopting the policies, procedures, and structure that was already in place. Even in an entrepreneurial environment like a franchise, the Franchise Team will instruct you to recruit key personnel and explain their specific function.

Although in some franchise opportunities, there is not that steadfast, controlling environment. In my (loosely-called) franchise setting. one’s autonomy is not only encouraged, it is required. While no two office appear deviated from the other in form and function on the surface, the ability to  create a more effective and efficient team environment exists — almost to the point of promoting internal competition.

Just because one is good at a particular function though, does not mean they should own their business. Well, in my industry it happens. And offices, while still churning out some semblance of results,  run at a very diminished capacity. Sales people are good at sales — not business management and operations.

Sometimes, when part of the lower hierarchy, and daydreaming over what we would do if we ever ran our own firm… lo, and behold, some of us (particularly me) are given the opportunity! Yes, it does happen!

We take all the pieces that went well, mix that in with our new ideas, and top it off with fixing everything that we saw as dysfunctional in other offices. Surprisingly, those who represent the most toxic methods of conducting an operation, are those who want to impose their views of what you should do with your business. Not in a suggestive way, almost as if they are dictating. — Is this a joke?

Doing It Alone?

"Umm...yeah! What he said!

If I could do it alone, trust me, I would. But, I can’t. Business volume does get to the point where you will have to begin delegating that responsibility into capable hands.

I have no problem sharing my success story and my dreams with others. Hopefully, they will target me as a source of motivation and inspiration to carve out their own success. But, your dreams are not theirs. Your aspirations as a business owner vary greatly from where they see their role. Your “big picture mentality” ends with you and often falls on deaf ears to those around you.

Plus, how you see someone else’s role is not how they perceive it.  All businesses suffer through this — the disappointing work ethic, poor performance, poor attendance, and lack of commitment.

“…Many of the people you hire will never be in a position you are. You create jobs, they look for them.…”

I often wonder where I went wrong when my HR Director leaves at 1:00pm for the rest of the day. Where is she going? What is she doing? I  won’t leave here to 9:45pm. I don’t expect an employee to be as driven and ambitious as me… but, damn, at least do your job.

Hire me!

When starting a new business, I suggest you screen your candidates well and put into writing their specific job functions, their hours, their deadlines, their responsibilities, as well as expected outcomes — and although this sounds childish, make them sign it… and give them a copy.

I am learning the hard way that many of those who are unemployed, have a legitimate reason, that goes far beyond corporate downsizing and the impact of the recession.

Your ass was fired… for cause, good cause!  And now I am going to have to suffer for taking the trash another business threw away?

No sir! I don’t think so! — Next!