Who Should You Hire?

We get this question a lot working with Chiropractors who are either about to open their new practice, or start out on their own.

Obviously, it is a big decision that comes with the consequence of increased fixed costs (paying their wages) and responsibility to train and lead them, as well as your patients. However, if you get the hiring process right and train well, this new employee can take a huge weight off your shoulders, allowing for growth and development of your business.

So, what should you look for and how do you start?

It is often tempting to hire someone like you, who you get on with and enjoy being around. The problem with this is that in being too alike, they normally have no skills to complement yours, only the same ones as you. Which means those tasks you find hard and hate to do… so will they. This will lead to frustration and can tarnish a relationship.

So, it is best to try and figure out first what the business needs, not what you would like to have.

Consider thinking where the business is doing well, this is typically easy to do at the start when you are full of enthusiasm. And, once you have done that, pat yourself on the back, take a deep breath in and ask yourself; “where is the business struggling and what am I weak at?”

This humbling question will enable you to find your flaws and downfalls so you can figure out where best to hire.

You may find the administration side of your work particularly challenging, so find someone who loves that. You may find you are a stickler for detail but often miss the bigger picture or the customer facing skills, hire someone who loves that.

But, what ever you choose to hire for and whoever you choose to hire, go into the process with high energy and expectation and be prepared to work with the new person. For all the skills they may bring to your team, they still will need to get to know your company and what you stand for. This process can take time and effort. Put that in in the short term and it will pay off in the long run.

So here are my Top Tips to Hiring:

1.       Identify what the business needs.
Take stock of all you are GREAT at, then flip it on its head and figure out your FAILINGS. This will enable you to find and appoint the best person to grow your business.

2.       Hire slow, fire quick.
This may sound harsh, and certainly don’t go into a relationship expecting to fire the person. But be aware, if it is not working, IT’S NOT WORKING. It is very tempting to keep going and lose sight of your initial intentions. Take your time to find the right person, and if they are not working well in the team, let them go with love.

3.       Hire on personality and values first
Skills and procedures can be taught but work ethic and values can not be changed (easily). When hiring, go on your gut feeling as much as what you see on paper and in a CV. This skill does improve with time and experience. But you need to hire a person with great energy and open to learning first. Then be prepared to put in the time training them.

4.       Understand the investment before the payback.
You always get out what you put in, focus on the individual you hire, work with them and help them to achieve your standard. Hiring will not instantly change your business, it may even cause the business to step back a little. But like a sling shot, the more you pull back, the more effort you put in, the further it will fly.

Good luck and if you ever need to discuss your hiring, please give us a shout, we are happy to help.

With love

Tom