By Carole Burman, Managing Director, MAD-HR
Growing your business can be a daunting prospect. There is increased responsibility and with many more demands on your time you can feel anxious. This feeling of ‘not being in control’ is completely natural, mankind would not have evolved without it, but how do we face the fear to enable us to continue to successfully grow and seek opportunities?
One way to remove the fear of the unknown is to work with experts who know what they’re doing. This could include outsourced provision in disciplines such as marketing, finance and HR.
There is a lovely quote, “if you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” I know from bitter experience, that there are times when you try and do your best, but all you often end up doing is wasting time and money, to only then learn the hard way that the remedy could have been achieved far more quickly and cost effectively by using the services of an expert.
As a business owner of a growing business myself, I’m acutely aware of the dangers of wanting to hang onto certain tasks because I enjoy them. However, I’ve learned that you need to have good ‘critical friends’ around to help you see things objectively, and help you see what changes you need to make to achieve your ambitions.
When we work with clients, right from the start we always want to be sure that we understand their vision for their business. This allows us to work with them to develop a plan that will help the business owner get there more quickly, whilst ensuring that the foundations of the business are strong and able to sustain the pains that often come with growth. Our approach includes a review of the organisation structure, KPI’s and performance management process, together with a team knowledge and skills audit.
Here are my five top tips to ensuring you’re ready to seize the opportunities that are going to come your way:
1. Actively plan for change now: Prepare to adapt your own role and responsibilities. Time waits for no one, and your business will evolve with or without you.
2. Data, data, data: if you can’t measure what you do and how you do it, then how can you see what the opportunities are to improve, or where you need to act.
3. Know and share your goals: If your team know where you are heading, then they can also spot opportunities that will help you on your way.
4. Communicate: Make the most of every opportunity presented, talk to those who can help you, share your good news along the way.
5. Bring in the experts: If you have identified an opportunity but recognise that you don’t have the skill to deliver this internally, speak to your trusted advisors and seek out those outsourced experts to help you get there.
Carole Burman is the founder and Managing Director of MAD-HR, an HR consultancy that supports SMEs throughout East Anglia. T: 01603 791256 E: hello@mad-hr.co.uk or visit mad-hr.co.uk Twitter @wearemadhr
