Finding myself too operational or hands on

**Susan Smith** · 11-May-17, 10:07 AM

I'm curious about small business owners. It seems to me that we may be too hands on in our businesses, which means we don't 'let go' enough to focus on strategy and building the business footprint.

Anyone out there who has used a business coach, I'd really appreciate your feedback - is it worthwhile? or did they tell you what you already knew.

As the breadwinner in my house, I find that I delay taking risks, which means that my business is not moving in the direction I want it to go.

**HR Solutions** · 11-May-17, 12:44 PM

Its all very well on spending money for a business coach, which I wouldn't do. Yes the problem is real. Maybe look at where you need someone that could help you e.g. answering calls, computer work, cold calling, helping manufacture etc etc and then get one person in that position - learn to delegate and you will find that things will start coming right, then you can hire another person later on. The biggest problem in a small business is the fear to expand, BUT at the end of the day you will not grow if you don't hire more staff. You will end up chasing your tail and trying to do everything but end up not doing things correctly.

There are a number of books out there that may help

**Greig Whitton** · 12-May-17, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by Susan Smith

I'm curious about small business owners. It seems to me that we may be too hands on in our businesses, which means we don't 'let go' enough to focus on strategy and building the business footprint.

This is an extremely common challenge. I like to describe it as the "growth cul-de-sac": growing your business to the point where it becomes stuck, in part because your business is so dependent on you.

Working with a business coach can help, but a good coach is less likely to tell you what to do and more likely to ask questions that you hadn't previously considered (thus, illuminating the blindspots that are holding you back).

There's some merit in HR Solutions' recommendation, but the solution is rarely as simple as hiring more people. Growing your team may be necessary, but even if it is it's just one piece of a bigger puzzle. If not handled correctly, it can actually exacerbate the problem (e.g. you might end up running around putting out fires because your new employees don't have the right skills / work ethic and/or aren't equipped with the right systems / resources).

**HR Solutions** · 12-May-17, 02:21 PM

If not handled correctly, it can actually exacerbate the problem (e.g. you might end up running around putting out fires because your new employees don't have the right skills / work ethic and/or aren't equipped with the right systems / resources).

I think it goes without saying that you would hire someone that can do the job, not anyone to fill a gap !

**Susan Smith** · 14-May-17, 02:51 PM

I went to a business coach workshop on Friday. It was very informative. I did not really learn anything new. Just confirming what I should be doing! So, a back to basics is always a good refresher workshop to attend now and again. I suppose it's the time to implement all the changes one needs to make. However, I have mapped a plan and .................... one step at a time. Hiring a PA or admin lady will be one of the first steps in the new arm of my business. Thanks for the help chaps, very much appreciated. Fortunately as a Psychometrist, my hiring process will be such that the person is competent, meets with my value system and has a high level of integrity. Could take a while to find the right person, but once I have allocated a budget I can make decisions around having less time spent on my business. Essentially I want to have a business that I can sell - that does not need me to run it.

**HR Solutions** · 15-May-17, 10:17 PM

I think we all like to hire people that are "competent , meets our high level of integrity" etc !! So you are no different !

**Houses4Rent** · 24-May-17, 05:14 PM

Trouble is such people do not grow on trees... and are often expensive too. Just had another episode of giving someone a chance to enter my industry as he was keen and I saw a future leader. Then he left after short 3 months without notice into another industry... When I picked up the pieces he left me with I found out he had barely done half of the jobs I trysted him to do.

**ians** · 25-May-17, 08:16 PM

26 years later and I stilled haven't found someone to fill the position...a person who thinks and works as hard as I do...they are all self employed.

Something that is getting me a lot more work...owner supervised/hands on projects...customers are getting tired of teams of semi and unskilled labour collected on the corner being dumped on site while the boss man goes off for the day..."managing his/her business".

I go into a project hands on...business grows faster than I can handle it...grow the team and leave people on site to do the brain dead stuff...loose customers faster than I get new ones...it's a never ending cycle.

I am back on the tools at the moment...people get to see quality workmanship.

I have tried focusing on the construction and getting other small operation to tackle the breakdowns...I might as well give the customers away.

Then I keep thinking...maybe I should join another small business and grow from there.

I wish I had a solution..........

**Dr Thomas** · 02-Jan-18, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by ians

26 years later and I stilled haven't found someone to fill the position...a person who thinks and works as hard as I do...they are all self employed.

I wish I had a solution..........

But you are right, no one who can actually 'think' is going to stay an employee for long, unless you are willing to pay him for all that extra mental work.

Have you considered writing down everything you do into a Standard Operating Procedure, as a manual (or manuals) or even checklists? Then you can just train people to follow the manual rather than have to 'think'.

**SSS100** · 11-Jan-18, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dr Thomas

But you are right, no one who can actually 'think' is going to stay an employee for long, unless you are willing to pay him for all that extra mental work.

Have you considered writing down everything you do into a Standard Operating Procedure, as a manual (or manuals) or even checklists? Then you can just train people to follow the manual rather than have to 'think'.

Manual or not .. an emplyees is just a pay collector ... thats it