In any business, the people we hire make a huge difference. The right people in the right spots at the right time can push you to new heights, while a bad hire can set you back. A great asset as you organize your business for growth is building around entrepreneurial employees.
- Solicit their advice. Entrepreneurial employees are great thinkers, so set their minds to work by asking them for their thoughts on what they might do to improve the business. What are the things they deal with every day that could be done better and smarter? What are some new product ideas or marketing possibilities? This shows to employees that you really do want them to keep thinking and trying to do more.
- Give them leadership positions. Put them in charge of projects based off their own ideas, and let them lead small teams in your organization. This will not only give them an outlet for their entrepreneurial spirit, but also give you an opportunity to evaluate their current leadership skills.
- Offer incentives. One truth about entrepreneurs is that they are driven to win. If you incentivize them with pay-for-performance measures and bonuses for excellent work, you can be sure they will go for it! This lets your people know in a very tangible way that you appreciate their efforts and notice what they are doing.
The right people will bring all the growth benefits of entrepreneurs, but within the structure of your organization. You’re only as good as your people, and the better they are, the better chance you have.