Hiring employees who share your core values
Anna Stubbs • April 14, 2023
At the beginning of your startup journey, you and your co-founders will be in charge of selecting and hiring the key members of your new team.
The people you choose will identify with your core aims for the business and will (usually) share your core values too. For example, if being green is a key value, the people you hire need to resonate with this. But as the business grows and expands, it's likely that the hiring process will move to your operations director, human resources director or people managers.
So, how do you ensure that you're still hiring people who share your core values? And why are these foundational values so important?
Why are core values so important to a new business?
Your values are the pillars on which the business is built. They’re the fundamental building blocks that will define what you believe in as a brand, how you treat your customers and employees and what your underlying mission will be for the company.
- What's the advantage of having a team with shared core values? - A team that shares the same ethical foundations is a team that works well together. You know WHY you’re doing what you do, and you know the right path to take when operating the business.
- How do you weave these values into your hiring process? - Make sure the initial job description clearly sets out the values you expect from an employee, and how these help to drive the company forward. You'll also attract the right talent. A Glassdoor survey found that 77% of respondents consider a company’s culture before applying for a job there. During interviews, swap outlooks and to gauge if this person is a good fit for the team.
- What should you include in your onboarding for new employees? - It’s a good idea to have your company values written down in a format that can be shared with new hires. By formalising your core values, you create a solid bedrock on which to base your training and onboarding. New employees can read, digest and ask questions about your values, and can see how your existing staff apply these values in the real world.
- How do you measure employee satisfaction and adherence to these values? - Having regular catch-ups with new employees is a must. Your managers should be holding 360 feedback sessions at least once every 6 months, so you can track progress, performance and employee satisfaction. Your core values should be part of these metrics, measuring how well your employees are hitting the right standard, and finding out what the business can do to make this easier.
Building a team that reflects your brand values
When a customer calls your customer support line, or a potential new client visits your offices, they expect these experiences to be consistent. This doesn’t mean getting rid of personality or the uniqueness of each employee. But it does mean having the same foundational values being lived and demonstrated throughout the company.
With a team of people who share your vision for the company, you’re ready to expand, scale and deliver the very best customer experience to your valued customers.
Need a hand managing cash flow? You’re not alone. The key is getting your invoicing right, by invoicing customers as soon as possible and using tools like Xero’s invoice reminders to move payments along. That said, there are a few other simple rules you can apply to manage your cash flow and get your invoices paid even faster: Keep your books accurate and up to date - so you can see your financial state at a glance. Don’t be too lenient with your customers - you can be direct and still polite. Keep a close watch on your accounts receivable turnover at all times and act sooner rather than later. Keep your accounting simple - so you have a good handle on these business metrics. We can help with this. Keep your business and your professional finances separate - this is essential to understanding your true cash flow position. Mixing your business and personal finances can leave you uncertain about business performance. Build a cash reserve - so you are prepared for unexpected events and can take advantage of opportunities when they pop up. Track your cashflow and forecast - whether it's automated reporting, AI, or a custom report we prepare for you, staying on top of your cashflow and making sure you have funds to operate smoothly is crucial. First you want to get your invoicing right. Get into a habit of sending invoices quickly. Then follow the steps above to collect revenue and keep your finances organised. Get in touch for guidance on your invoicing and business cash flow, if you need support tracking or projecting your cashflow we're here to help.
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It goes without saying that communication in the workplace is extremely important. Oftentimes, people will need to communicate with others, whether that’s a phone call to secure a sale, a chat with a team member, or an email about a cross-departmental project. What’s more, with hybrid working having become more entrenched in the post-pandemic era, effective communication has never been more important. The seven Cs of communication One way to improve the quality of communication in the workplace is to adopt the ‘seven Cs of communication’ - a concept first introduced in the 1950s by Scott M. Cutlip and Allen H. Center in their book, Effective Public Relations. Although these foundational concepts for effective communication have been around for many decades, they remain a useful guideline that can be used by remote, office, or hybrid workers alike. The seven Cs highlight how communications should be: Clear. Messages should be delivered with clarity: that means easy-to-understand language that avoids the use of jargon or slang to convey a point. Being clear in communications also means not using overly technical terms without clarification. Concise. No one enjoys reading stuffy prose that rambles. Removing excess filler from communications will help readers remember the point of your message more easily, while making your overall message more memorable. Complete. All essential details should be included in a message to minimise misunderstanding or confusion. Coherent. To ensure a smooth read, a message’s structure should be logical and consistent throughout. Concrete. Using specific, precise terms can help remove vagueness from your messages, and help avoid misunderstandings caused by ambiguity. Correct. Correct grammar and punctuation is an essential part of communication. Similarly, if using technical language, make sure that any terms are used in their correct context, and can be understood by the target audience. Courteous. Being respectful in how you word your messages, and remaining polite at all times, not only builds goodwill among colleagues, but is essential in fostering a positive workplace environment. Similarly, make sure to be timely in your responses – if you’re backlogged with work and know you’ll take a few days to get back to someone about a query, let that person know upfront. Follow the seven Cs to minimise misunderstandings, and to create thoughtful, memorable messages that encourage teamwork, no matter where your team is located.