Expanding Team: 6 Signs You Need to Do it Fast
It’s common knowledge that running a business comes with a unique set of challenges. What people aren’t aware of is that an expanding team can solve most of them. However, your troubles don’t end when you recruit a bunch of new hires. You must recognize the signs that dictate when it’s the right time to hire new employees and what purpose they should fulfill.
Luckily, this article discusses 6 signs and team expansion strategies to help you make informed decisions about your team.
Expanding Team? Early Indicators
How do you determine when it’s time to expand your team? Here are some common signs you need to look out for:
Turning Down Work
Having to turn down work and reject potential clients is one of the clearest signs you need an expanding team. Most businesses mistake this as a sign of success since it indicates high demand for their services. However, turning down work only means missing out on opportunities for growth and profit.
Furthermore, constantly rejecting new clients can damage your reputation and the chance to build new relationships. So, to sustain your business, you must have a sizable team that can accommodate increasing demands.
Customer Service is Struggling
A decline in service quality typically indicates that your team is being stretched thin and overburdened. They’ll have trouble meeting deadlines, quickly responding to customers, attending to their concerns, etc.
Of course, these small instances and mistakes happen in almost every business. But if they go on for long, you must hire additional support. Or else you’ll face customer dissatisfaction through negative reviews, refunds, and corrections.
Quality is Declining
When your employees are overworked and understaffed, the quality of their work suffers. They’ll try to keep up with growing workloads and deadlines but will likely make mistakes and cut corners to get there. You’ll eventually have to address costly reworks, defective products, and a damaged reputation.
On the other hand, an expanding team will distribute the workload to a manageable amount. This will help increase employee productivity and reduce the number of errors made.
Specialized Expertise Required
As your business grows, you’ll likely encounter tasks or issues that require a special skill set. For example, you might need expertise in advanced technology, digital marketing, or legal matters. Unfortunately, the team you built when your business was only starting out may not have the skills to qualify.
If so, you must consider hiring professionals who can fulfill these qualifications. They’ll help keep your business afloat in the competitive environment and adapt to changing market trends.
High Employee Turnover
Another sure sign that you need an expanding team is high employee turnover. This usually happens when your team feels burnt out, unsupported, or overwhelmed with work. In fact, 77% of employees consider leaving a company that doesn’t focus on their well-being.
It’s important that you expand your team during these issues, as a high turnover rate can cause the most disruption in a business. You’ll be left with the costly task of hiring, and training potential replacements. Similarly, your remaining employees will be burdened with the extra workload.
Limited Capacity for Innovation
It’s through innovation people can develop ideas and solutions that contribute to a business’s growth. However, that’s only possible if employees are given the time and space to indulge in creative thinking. If employees are stretched too thin, they may struggle to think beyond their immediate tasks.
An expanding team will not only reduce the workload but also introduce new perspectives to your ideas. You’ll be able to generate innovative solutions that foster growth and productivity for your business.
Conclusion
If you’re facing any of these issues, expanding your team can serve as the perfect solution to combat them. Just look out for signs like declining quality and customer service, high turnover rates, and lack of innovation. Also, be aware if you’re turning down opportunities or you need specialized skill sets.
