WE DOUBLED OUR STAFF OVERNIGHT: HOW TO MANAGE AN EXPLOSION IN BUSINESS GROWTH

Businesses often experience growing pains when their success requires them to expand their workforce. If not managed well, the business can be held back by inefficiencies, costly mistakes, existing employees leaving and clients feeling the stress.

However, it is possible to grow in a way that brings your team and clients along for the journey and encourages long-term growth, rather than a short and unsustainable spike.

Five years ago, my drinks consultancy business, Sweet&Chilli doubled its staff overnight. And we managed to maintain a high staff retention, which is pretty rare in the hospitality industry.

Here are the key areas that I found that you must focus on in order to make sure your growth is not short-lived:

Look for inefficiencies

A lack of automation in your business is a like filling a swimming pool using a bucket with a small hole in it. You will eventually fill the pool with water, but it will require a massive amount of energy, time and lots of waste. You must find and use a more efficient way. While hiring new staff brings extra work in the early stages of their employment, they do have the added bonus of being fresh eyes. Be sure to utilise your new hires by encouraging them to question how things are done and to point out any inefficiencies that they might see. Ask them, “Do you think there is a quicker way to do this, or are you seeing any double-ups in this process?” Read more

Cam Northway - Dynamic Business - 08 Jan 2018