Below is a conversation with Richard Sanderson and Alastair Sanderson from Oxford, UK.
When looking to hire your first employee, you’re likely going to be plagued by all kinds of questions. Where to look for them, how to screen them, what kinds of questions to ask at the interview – all of these issues are likely to keep you awake at night.
Luckily, today we have the benefit of speaking to Alastair Sanderson and Richard Sanderson, entrepreneurs from Oxford. They’re here to provide some insight and arm us with their best tips on making your first hire.
Hire for Fit Over Skill
Since this is the first person you are hiring, you should focus on ensuring you are a good match in terms of personality and goals, say the Sanderson brothers. While you certainly want the person to have a certain skill set, how you fit in together will be more important.
Chances are that several, if not most of the people you interview will have the right set of skills. So, consider what working with them will be like more than what they can do (it should go without saying that you have already ascertained they are a match in terms of skills).
Refrain from Micromanaging
If you have been working on your own for a while, it might take you some time to learn to trust someone else and let them take full responsibility for a task, says Richard Sanderson.
This can cause all kinds of issues down the line, so before you make your hire, give yourself a good talking to, and focus on relinquishing the reins. You don’t need to hover over someone 24/7 in order to ensure they get something done. If you do, they are not the right person for the job – plus you are not getting anything done yourself, so the hire was completely unnecessary.
Have Your Processes Ready
Onboarding is the most important part of the hiring process, and you want to get it right. Alastair Sanderson advises you to write out all of your processes and procedures before your employee comes in for their first day.
Having a reference to go by will make it easier for them, and they can always check back to the document instead of asking you a question. It will also enable you to spot any gaps in your processes and amend them.
Hire to Fill a Specific Need
Ideally, you want your first hire to take a significant load off your back. This can be a task you’re bad at, or something you’re doing a lot of. With successful delegation, you’ll carve yourself out more time for growing the business, say the Sanderson brothers.
Don’t just hire randomly without knowing what hours and tasks need to be filled. Have a goal in mind and look for someone who can accomplish something specific in a specific amount of time.
Don’t Expect to Be Their Friend
When hiring your first few employees, it will often feel very friendly, as the Sanderson brothers remind us. After all, there’s just the two or a few of you, you spend a lot of time working together, and you are bound to forge a relationship.
While there’s nothing wrong with being incredibly friendly with each other, don’t forget that you are, in fact, not friends and not equals – you are the boss. If being too friendly with your staff will hinder you from making the right decisions for your business or getting them to adhere to certain plans and processes, you might want to keep the relationship extremely professional.
Final Thoughts
If you are in the process of making your first hire or if you are hoping to be there quite soon, take into account the advice the Sanderson brothers have laid out here, and hopefully, your first hire will be there to celebrate your retirement with you. Learn more about Richard Sanderson and Alastair Sanderson and Oxford on their site sandersonholdings.com.
