Choosing People

I've had to choose a new team member recently. Not easy is it? Looking back over all the people I've employed during the last 20 years, I wonder how I have been so lucky. I've worked with some really great people - talented, energetic, creative and fun to be with. There has been a surprisingly small number who have caused regret and actually, with those, I probably knew from day one that a mistake had been made but carried on anyway because it was just a gut instinct and nothing quantifiable. It always sorts itself out in the end though and you end up wishing you'd acted sooner. Laws about employment and recruitment are detailed and rigorously applied, and so they need to be. If you do it properly there's nothing to worry about. But it is a real responsibility and one of the hardest aspects of running a small business without the luxury of an in-house lawyer and an HR department.

I think the key to getting and keeping good people is to be totally open and transparent with everyone. Either they will like you and not want to abuse your trust, or they will cop out and move on. I always say that the people who share our philosophy are those who stay around the longest. Not that we're right and anything else is wrong - but if you don't hold good to your own principles, you can't really be a good leader. Anyway, we're all looking forward to Dave joining us a week on Tuesday. Have a good weekend all.