As we have come to learn, one individual cannot be the on sight expert in everything required to run their business.  As the enterprise grows from micro business (less than five employees) to large the entrepreneur has to grapple with issues about leadership, motivation, competitive benefits and pay scales. They are also dealing with financial decisions, capital projects, branding and customer service. It means the business owner/leader must seek outside help or hire it into their organization on multiple levels.

This is especially true when matters are related to Human Resources.  Who among us really knows how to establish a profit sharing program for instance, or providing competitive benefits programs complete with life insurance, dental and disability?  As an entrepreneur this takes serious planning and research.  Do you even have key person life insurance to protect your business from a potential loss of a key player within your organization (you, maybe others)?

If you are starting to have growing pains surrounding personnel issues, starting at the bottom with vision, job descriptions, performance reviews, pay scale and benefits then maybe it’s time to engage a professional to help you.  Hiring a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) can get you started.  Hiring outside counsel in this arena is no different than seeking advice from your banker, lawyer or accountant.  You need to attract solid advice from a highly specific field of expertise.  These are people that can come in, review your operations with you and then come back with a plan for you to follow.  It does not necessarily mean hiring a full-time in-house HR professional.  Yes there are consulting fees but they may in fact be less costly hiring that full-time person.  Think of it as the prerequisite in hiring full-time.

Having a professional in the wings at your beck and call can give you piece of mind on matters that until now have been foreign to you.  The benefits are; you can stay competitive by attracting talent to your organization with the offering of benefits which eventually could include profit sharing productivity.  Being competitive means you can hire the best and be ahead of your competition.  Of course if you are not expanding or planning sales growth or just plain not planning to stay ahead of the curve you can always just go with what you know (status quo).  The question is do you want to be left sitting at the curb in your market place?

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  What are the basic rules of parenthood?  Provide food to sustain your family is rule 1).  Rule 2) is providing shelter. Rule 3) is maintaining you’re family’s health.  Rule 4) is providing education so that your children can compete in the real world. Rule 5) is teaching your children humane values they can take away and teach their own children…your legacy.

In contrast what are the rules in the business world?

Rule 1) Feed your work family – make a profit to sustain wages and employment including your own.

Rule 2) Leverage your resources to provide a stable and safe work environment and invest in innovation and new technology.

Rule 3) Encourage ideas and efficiencies from workers help them engage as part of the business’s success story.  This breeds motivation and improves attitude – the health of your workers.

Rule 4) Educate and offer training programs to your staff so they become better at what they do and increase your company’s competitiveness.

Rule 5) involve your business somehow in your community.  Teach the legacy value of giving back to those who support your business.  Become known as not just a profit seeking missile.

As young children we took our parents and the gifts they provided for granted.  Being grateful for what led us to where we are today will help clear our paths to greatness.

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