There’s a lot of stigma around support staff. Whether they are sitting in your office, or working remotely, the term ‘admin staff’ is usually associated with simply being an overhead cost. The truth is, they can help make, or break, your business.
Having good support staff is key. They will help you create systems and processes. They can assist you clear the pile of ‘stuff’ surrounding you, and leave you free to work on your business, rather than in your business. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, not all support staff are created equal. So, you need to find the right ‘fit’ for your business.
So, you understand the value of support, you’ve taken a leap of faith, and brought someone into your business. You’ve given them the key to your business ‘undie drawer’ and asked them to tidy it all up for you. But, like everything in life, it doesn’t go to plan. They may have been under-skilled to do the job you thought they would do. You’ve spent more time explaining how you like things done, or, (and this is every business owners’ nightmare) they are changing things.
If you’re a business owner, you should know that your business should be fluid, and open to change. Change is a good thing. Sorry, let me rephrase, effective change is a good thing. Embrace the changes that are simplifying your systems, or, simply making the jobs that need to get done easier. But, also, have patience. You will spend time explaining things to start with, it will take at least 3 months for your support staff to really integrate with your business. You want them to learn it, you want them to embrace it, and most of all, you want them to fall in love with your business and nurture it just like you do. Because, if they do, you will simply shine.
Good support (and I emphasise the good part) want your business to succeed as much as you do. Regardless of whether they are working for you 10 hours a month, or 40 hours a week, they will jump in all guns blazing, and be your best defender in battle. They will be your best cheerleader when you’re on the entrepreneurial roller coaster from hell, and sing to high heaven when you’re right up there succeeding magically.
