How do I find the best remote worker? Tip #1

I've been hiring remotely for several years, and I notice a pattern with people who hire remotely. This blog series aims to help address this painful points, to help you hire effectively, remotely.

Tip #1: Know what you want

More often than not, we entrepreneurs and small business owners come into the fray with a vision and a business goal in mind. A number do practice stringency in terms of starting a business, but if you're a lot like me, you often don't think of the final details, and your life motto is always "I'll cross the bridge when I get there!".

I don't think I have to tell you that this isn't a good business practice. The same can be said about hiring people. The right hire can make you, a wrong hire can definitely break you.

When you choose to hire someone, you have to understand your own needs first.

• What do you want to accomplish by hiring someone?

• Is it cost effective to hire someone remotely?

• How long will it take to onboard someone remotely?

• What tasks can I delegate?

What do you want to accomplish by hiring someone?

What is your goal in expending cash onboarding someone else into your business? Do you want to shift your focus to growing your business, and leave your day-to-day with someone else? Or perhaps you need someone to expand your business for you while you focus on developing your product?

You need to make sure you know what your end goal is, and if getting someone onbaord can help you with this task.

Is it cost effective to hire someone remotely?

Honestly hiring another person into your business is an investment - whether its a good or bad investment depends on your perspective and understanding. Prior to considering this option, have you tried checking your local workforce? Would it be easier, and cheaper to work with them instead of getting someone from somewhere else?

Checking all your available options will yield better results than deciding on something important immediately.

How long will it take to onboard someone remotely?

Onboarding someone is essential in getting the results you want from this endeavor. Say for example, you went through all the trouble to hire a remote worker from overseas, and you realize too late that they have a hard time understanding your culture. Say your business is reliant on your understanding of your current pop culture and trends. How will your new staff help you if they can't understand these things? You'll then need time to onboard and train them, which will start costing you - you're going to need to start paying them, even if they are still learning.

Its important to remember that after hiring someone, you need to get them up to speed with your business and processes so they can quickly take over the tasks you delegate and you can focus on the essentials. Hiring someone smart, with comprehension skills would definitely be your best bet.

What tasks can I delegate?

Circling back to the first point, you have to know what your end goal is - do you focus on growing your business (sales, marketing, networking) or developing your product (innovation, creative work, quality development)?

As soon as you are certain where you want to sit in your business, you can start outlining and listing down the tasks you want your staff to cover for you.

Once you realize these things, and you still wish to hire someone remotely, then you're on the right track!

Check in again next time for another helpful tip!