Business Education

Struggling to Hire Skilled Staff? Avoid Unwanted Habits

Some job candidates can easily impress business owners with impeccable credentials. They have all the right stuff, including skills and experience. However, some of the same individuals come with unwanted and undesirable traits. For instance, the person who looks perfect on paper but is prone to spreading divisive office gossip, or the employee who is chronically late, maybe someone who is way too talkative, or an ostensible team member who spends an unacceptable amount of time alone, doing personal things – on company time.

Whatever bad habits or unpleasant personality traits this person possesses, they often take employers by complete surprise. So, it’s important not to get yourself into such a predicament in the first place. And that’s what we’re here to tackle. So, let’s get started.

Hiring Smart: How Small Business Owners Can Find Skilled Candidates Without Unwanted Habits

Every hire matters. Owners often juggle the dual challenge of finding individuals with the right skill set while avoiding those who might bring counterproductive habits to the workplace. Now, let’s take a good look at some effective strategies to ensure you’re building a resilient, productive team that aligns with your business values.

Define What You’re Looking For—Clearly

Before you dive into the hiring process, outline exactly what your ideal candidate should bring to the table. Identify:

Skills. What technical or soft skills are absolutely non-negotiable?
Values. How do they align with your business’s culture and ethics?
Experience vs. potential. Do you need someone with a proven track record, or are you open to developing a promising individual?

Create a detailed job description that not only lists job responsibilities but also emphasizes your company’s culture and expectations. This attracts candidates who resonate with your goals.

Source Candidates Strategically

Finding the right candidates requires casting your net in the right waters. Some effective sourcing strategies include:

Professional networks. Reach out to industry-specific groups on LinkedIn or local business forums.
Referrals. Tap into your network for recommendations—team members and industry colleagues often know strong candidates.
Specialized job boards. Consider niche platforms tailored to your industry to find skilled talent.

Use Behavioral and Skill-Based Interviews

Craft your interview process to uncover both a candidate’s strengths and potential red flags. Incorporate the following to be more insightful:

Behavioral questions. Ask about past experiences that reveal work ethics, collaboration skills, and conflict management.
Skill tests. Include practical assessments to gauge their ability to perform job-related tasks.
Hypothetical scenarios. Present scenarios that reflect real challenges in your business to evaluate problem-solving skills.

Check References Thoroughly

Unfortunately, bad habits are often hidden during interviews, so contacting former employers or references is crucial. When speaking with references, ask:

What was their work ethic like?
How did they handle feedback or challenges?
Would you rehire this person?

This step can reveal underlying issues or confirm positive traits.

Prioritize Cultural Fit

Skills can often be taught, but aligning with your business’s culture is harder to instill. During interviews, look for candidates who:

Share your vision and enthusiasm.
Demonstrate adaptability and open-mindedness.
Exhibit a proactive approach to learning and growth.

A strong cultural fit can prevent the introduction of negative habits that conflict with your workplace dynamics.

Emphasize Onboarding and Training

Once you hire someone, invest in a structured onboarding process to set clear expectations from day one. Address:

Company values and workplace etiquette.
Performance standards and feedback mechanisms.
Development opportunities to build their skills and confidence.

This helps reinforce the habits and behaviors you want in your workplace.

Stay Vigilant During Probation

Use the probation period to monitor new hires closely. Watch for:

Their ability to take constructive feedback.
Signs of a growth mindset and willingness to learn.
Patterns of behaviors that align or clash with your team dynamics.

If red flags arise, address them promptly to avoid long-term disruption.

Final Thoughts

Hiring the right person is as much about avoiding the wrong fit as it is about finding the right one. Remember: every hire is a step toward creating a resilient and thriving workplace culture.

Want to Accomplish More?

Do you want your company to grow faster and earn more while you spend more time with your family doing all the things you started your business to do?

We can make that dream a reality. Give us 30 minutes and we will show you how to get your life back. Skeptical? Good! Put us to the test.

You can call us for your free appointment at 480-636-1720, or, if you prefer, send us an email. You can also visit us at Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

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How to Run a Work-from-Home Business

May 24, 2017 No Comments

The Internet, and more particularly, the world wide web, is revolutionizing so many things in our lives and the workplace is no different. More companies are using telecommuters to work for them, and, they are reaping the benefits of less overhead. In addition, the web makes starting a business quite simple. The biggest problem for a part-time or full-time entrepreneur is being able to effectively manage their time. Those work-from-home commercials and websites leave out many aspects of having a home-based business. While they tout the freedom and no need to endure frustrating daily commutes, they do leave some things out. The devil is in the details and it’s those things you might not think about that can cause you to fail. How to Run a Work-from-Home Business Running a work-from-home business not only takes a lot of entrepreneurial spirit, a vision, and an executable plan, it also requires a heavy amount of self discipline. When you stop to think about it, you’ll realize that having a home-based business means you won’t leave either work or home for the majority of the week. Another phenomenon (read: unrealistic expectation) that you’ll probably face from your spouse is about household chores. When you work outside the home, you don’t take any household appliances with you. The washer and dryer stay in the laundry room and the dishwasher remains right beside the kitchen sink. Ninety-seven percent of entrepreneurs love or like working from home, according to Money Tips.com’s recent survey of 160 successful Americans who run their businesses from home. Most enjoy it so much that 54 percent of them would turn down an offer of free office space just one mile from home. —Inc.com In addition to these, the lawn mower, vacuum, and all those household cleaning supplies won’t mysteriously jump into your vehicle. However, your significant other won’t necessarily grasp this concept, and, will wonder why there’s laundry to fold or dishes to take out of the dishwasher. Any one that runs a home-based business knows that chores are time consuming and just because the office is in the house, doesn’t mean all the chores will get done. In addition to this, you’ll be literally surrounded with distractions. It could be guitars, a game console, television, crafts, social media, or any other hobby or pastime that beckons day after day. If you want to run a successful work-from-home business, you’ll need to do the following daily: Create a schedule and stick to it. There’s a reason you have scheduled work hours when your job takes you out of the home and to a workplace. Do the same for your home-based business: create a schedule and don’t deviate from it. Let your clients or customers know your hours of operation and be available when needed. Get dressed for work. One of the perceived advantages people have about working out of the home is being able to dress down. While you can certainly work in your pajamas or just a tee-shirt and shorts, it does have a strong impact on your psyche, and, it’s not a good one because it promotes procrastination. Dress business casual and you’ll actually feel like it’s a work environment. Take breaks during the day. You do this at any workplace, but, when you start a home-based business, you’ll probably experience an urge to stay put in your office or work space to get things done. You need breaks during the day, so, put these into your schedule. It could be a short walk around the block, or even doing a chore, but these should be regular. Give yourself time off. Because your work and home environment are one-in-the-same, you’ll face the temptation to get this or that done when family is home. Don’t shortchange your family and you’ll find yourself to be a lot happier when there’s a good balance. Get out at least once per week. Don’t make the mistake of chaining yourself to your desk. You can go out to lunch and meet a friend or your spouse, but, be sure to do this at least once per week to keep your professional mannerisms sharp. Another tip you ought to take is to stay focused on your business. Because you might not regularly interact personally with others, your mind will tend to wander and you might get some new ideas to pursue. While it’s wonderful to be creative, you won’t be able to go off in different directions at once — keep your focus or you’ll increase your chances of failing. I just had this conversation yesterday with a Chief Marketing Officer who works virtually, and he enjoys the flexibility. We met at The Henry on Camelback in Phoenix. Personally, I prefer to get dressed, and head to my office with focus on my schedule and priorities. Call me traditional, but my work ethic has been embedded into my habits for over 35 years and it works for me. Now, I also find myself logging in when I get back to my home office. So, one of my incentives is to remain focused and productive at my office during the work week so that my evenings and weekends are free at home. It does take discipline, but this allows me time with my family and to enjoy a balanced life outside of my work. What I do like about working from home, is the flexibility it provides me and my family as well as the flexibility in the services that I can provide for my clients. What is most exciting is the business and career opportunities that our technology gives us. Go out and create your new opportunities … and start from home! Want to find out about what a business coach can do for you? [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

Tesla is Now Asking Suppliers for Cash Back, Here’s How to Avoid that Scenario

August 14, 2018 No Comments

Tesla is back in the news. Headlines proclaim the electric car manufacturer actually approached some of its suppliers, requesting cash back in an effort to realize profitability. Elon Musk quickly reacted to the reports. Now, it’s a he-said-she-said storyline. But, that’s just another fight the media will happily play up for clicks and tune-ins. The reality is Tesla is not a profitable company. Even though it enjoys so much buzz and customer loyalty, it can’t turn a profit. The Top Reason Small Businesses Fail The company reportedly burned through $1 billion in a quarter. And, it’s promised to bring its expenditure to under $3 billion this year. That, after it went through $3.4 billion last year. Not to mention, it lost $710 million in Q1 of this year alone. Just as good cash flow keeps a business afloat, poor cash flow can sink it. In fact, poor cash flow is a big reason why one in every four businesses doesn’t make it past the first year. And why more than half don’t survive past the fifth. —Fresh Books.com It gets worse. The company might not reach a stock conversion price of $560.64. Which means it will have to shell out $230 million to obtain a convertible bond in November. Its stock fell by nearly 4.5 percent just in the last twelve months and continues to struggle. This is an important lesson to those who’d like to start a small business because it’s one of the main reasons startups fail in the first place: inadequate cash flow and reserves. Problems with cash is typically the reason small businesses fail. Top Small Business Cash-Flow Mistakes to Avoid So, if cash is the biggest reason new companies fail, then how do they actually get into such a pickle? Well, it’s not just avoiding bad business ideas (although that’s certainly helpful), it’s more about being smart with money in the first place: Impulse spending. We all know retailers embrace this practice. But, it’s far too easy to fall into the trap of impulse spending, particularly during the startup phase. It’s also a shortcut to failure because it’s the ultimately lack of responsible cash management. Past-due receivable apathy. When cash is rolling in, it’s very easy to let an invoice or two or more slide. After all, there’s plenty of money coming in, so why bother? It’s important to stay on top of receivables because it sends the wrong signal when you become apathetic. Plus, you might be able to put that money to good use in the future. Not sticking to a real budget. You wouldn’t spend more money that’s in your personal bank account. However, when it comes to business finances, too many owners just don’t adhere to a realistic and strict budget. And, that’s a recipe for failure. Failure to put some cash aside. Feast or famine. That’s an old cliché but it’s entirely true for many businesses. That reality means it’s best to have some cash on-hand when needed because it’s very likely that time will come. What other ways do small business mishandle cash? What other advice would you give about maintaining positive cash-flow? Please share your thoughts and experiences! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

How Successful Entrepreneurs Stay Calm Under Pressure

May 16, 2017 No Comments

There’s one thing that’s certain about starting and running a business, there will be challenges. Some are mere annoyances, while others are minor and easily dealt with, then, there are times when it seems the earth moves. It can happen in the blink of an eye, a simple error demonstrating much to your chagrin the butterfly effect. One tiny mistake or misstep makes a larger-than-life impact, and, your team looks to you to deal with the situation. We are told our whole lives that when faced with a challenge to remain calm. While it’s easy to do so as an exercise, things get a lot more complicated in real time. It starts with a stark realization, your heart drops into yours stomach, and, you begin to look desperately for answers. For most of us, that’s a normal reaction, however, for successful entrepreneurs, there’s a different approach. How Successful Entrepreneurs Stay Calm You’re not alone if you believe that stressful situations wreak havoc on lives and cause physical damage, particularly because it’s backed by science. Dr. Travis Bradberry helped to conduct a research study on more than one million people. As the nearby quote states, the analysis revealed that a whopping 90 percent of those categorized as top performers were able to stay calm, manage their emotions, and remain in control. The ability to manage your emotions and remain calm under pressure has a direct link to your performance. TalentSmart has conducted research with more than a million people, and we’ve found that 90% of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress in order to remain calm and in control. —Forbes What this teaches us is that people learn to deal with stress, and other neuroscience research has found this to be true. One of the secrets revealed is that staying calm and under control is not an inborn trait. In fact, we also know this because of our instinctive fight-or-flight response–both can make a bad situation a whole lot worse. So, how is it that successful entrepreneurs stay calm under pressure? Well, they do these things: They take a breath and step back. Okay, we all know to do this, but, how many of us actually practice it? Too often, we let our gut instinct fly, which in most instances, isn’t a path to solve the problem but exacerbate the situation. Taking a deep breath allows you to breathe, in other words, calm your nerves, and your brain. They solicit and seriously entertain ideas. Look to some of the most successful people in business, and, you’ll definitely find a common trait: trust. We’re not talking about self-confidence, but trusting in others, or, put another way, giving serious consideration to the ideas and suggestions of other people. Behind every successful business person, there’s a team of people they trust and rely on for advice. They think carefully but don’t fret the outcome. Rather than focus on the moment and allowing it to become an exercise in fear and doubt, look to the future. While what you face might be heart pounding at the moment, it’s quite helpful to see the good that will come from it. Fear produces poor decisions but hope gives you options and a sense of peace. They stand by their beliefs and principles. When confronted with a problem, rather than give into the pressure, successful people choose to stand by their beliefs and not compromise their principles. While this might cause a setback, it serves a higher purpose and makes a statement. They relabel their emotions. Though not easy, this is very helpful. Instead of giving into fear, reroute the feeling into anticipation. You can turn frustration into desire, and transform dread into wise caution. It takes practice to do these things, but becomes more natural over time. That’s a good thing, because you’ll learn a lot on your journey and different constructive coping mechanisms that produce real results. [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]