Can You Afford To Take The Risk?
Would you call yourself a ‘reluctant leader’? Many business owners are likely to identify with this if they are completely honest.
When you started your business, you had a vision, and an exciting business proposition to share, however, as your business grew you quickly realised that with it came a ton of extra responsibilities that you hadn’t envisaged.
Arguably the most important of these is building and managing your team. These people will make or break your business and if properly managed will help you achieve that vision you started out with.
But motivating a team is easier said than done!
There are many all-too-common mistakes that small business owners make without even realising it and below we look at some of them and share a few ideas on what you can do.
Acting with the best intentions, but without understanding the law
You value your staff. You want to do your best by them. And you have absolutely no intention of doing anything that could potentially harm your business or bring it into disrepute. The reality here though is that simply trying to do what feels right and fair often just doesn’t cut it.
Employment law can be complex, and it’s your responsibility to make sure that you’re legally compliant. Do you understand, for example, the legislation around acceptable working hours? Or how you should support disabled members of staff? Or what to do if a worker is expecting a baby? If not, then you need to either improve your knowledge, or take advice from an expert.
Developing policies and procedures as the need arises
Perhaps you’ve never really considered how you would handle an under-performer or someone who is habitually late, or what you would do if someone raised a serious complaint. If you choose to you can address issues like this as and when they arise, however, this approach isn’t ideal, and often makes matters worse.
If you don’t have robust policies and procedures in place, how can you be sure that you’re acting fairly and consistently whilst remaining legally compliant.
Expert HR advice isn’t just for the big fish
Many small business owners think that working with an HR Consultant is something they might consider once their business reaches a certain size. In actual fact, we provide affordable solutions to businesses of all sizes, some of whom employ just a handful of staff. We help them to nip problems in the bud, and create a clear growth plan for the future.
Seeking help early can ensure that any niggling issues don’t become deeply engrained in your workplace culture; it will also give you peace of mind knowing that you are getting expert advice and support when you need it.
If you’re reading this guide and can identify with some of these traits, then get in touch. We can arrange to have a no-obligation consultation, and make a plan for getting you firmly on the right track!
If you would like to discuss this further with one of the team please fill in the Contact Form here or give us a call on 01604 763494.
