“Make sure you didn’t just buy yourself a job.”

This piece of advice hit hard. One day, after a couple of years in, I was bartending at our wine bar and I was like, “oh fuck, I just bought myself a bartending job.” I swore I hung up my last bar rag in my late twenties. Very soon after that, I changed my perspective on hiring staff, rearranged the budget and started delegating tasks that I either didn’t like to do or just was plain not good at.

“I’ll Just Do It Myself.”

As a small business owner, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to do everything yourself. After all, your business is your baby, and you want to ensure that every aspect of it reflects your vision and dedication. I get it. However, trying to handle every task can quickly lead to burnout, overwhelm and limit your business’s growth potential. This is where strategic staffing comes into play.

Instead of buying yourself a job by taking on every responsibility, it’s essential to strategically hire staff or professionals for the parts of the job you don’t enjoy or aren’t proficient at. Not only does this free up your time to focus on what you do best (which is also where you make the money), but it also brings in expertise and fresh perspectives that can propel your business forward. Here are some steps to help you build your dream team and avoid the pitfalls of self-employment:

1. Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses.

Take a step back and honestly assess your skills and preferences. What tasks do you excel at? What aspects of running a business do you find draining or challenging? By understanding your strengths and weaknesses, you can begin to identify areas where hiring additional help would be most beneficial.

Download the Skills + Preferences Worksheet

2. Define Roles and Responsibilities:

Once you’ve pinpointed the areas where you need support, it’s crucial to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each team member. This ensures that everyone knows what is expected of them and reduces the likelihood of overlapping or neglected tasks.

3. Hire for Complementary Skills

When building your team, look for individuals whose skills complement your own. For example, if you’re a creative visionary but struggle with the day-to-day operations, consider hiring someone with strong organizational and logistical skills to handle that aspect of the business. By bringing in team members with diverse talents, you create a well-rounded team that can tackle any challenge.

4. Focus on Culture Fit

In addition to skills and experience, consider the cultural fit when hiring new team members. Look for individuals who share your values, work ethic, and passion for your business’s mission. A cohesive team that shares a common vision will be more motivated and productive in achieving your business goals.

5. Invest in Training and Development

Once you’ve assembled your team, invest in their ongoing training and development. Provide opportunities for skill-building, professional growth, and cross-functional training to ensure that your team members are equipped to handle evolving challenges and responsibilities.

6. Delegate and Empower

Trust your team to take ownership of their roles and make decisions autonomously. Delegate tasks and empower your employees to innovate and problem-solve independently. This not only relieves you of the burden of micromanagement but also fosters a sense of ownership and accountability among your team members.

7. Regularly Evaluate and Adjust

As your business evolves, periodically evaluate your staffing needs and make adjustments as necessary. Be open to feedback from your team and solicit their input on areas for improvement or areas where additional support may be needed. Flexibility and adaptability are key to building a successful and sustainable business.

In conclusion, building a successful small business requires more than just hard work and dedication – it requires strategic staffing and delegation. By identifying your strengths and weaknesses, defining roles and responsibilities, hiring complementary team members, and fostering a culture of empowerment and continuous learning, you can avoid the trap of buying yourself a job and instead build a thriving business that can flourish and grow for years to come.