I started my business so that I could be sure that I worked in a place that treated people right and partnered with only clients that I liked and shared values with. To do this I had to ensure I had the right people surrounding me to support and propel MacComms to success. I want to be a disrupter; a PR agency that raised the profile and credibility of key business people and their companies from working hard and building trusting, reliable relationships. Three years on and my company is going from strength to strength working with a number of influential start-ups and business people across Yorkshire.
My advice this month is for those who are wanting to take their business to the next level, to grow their client base and staff numbers, to increase profits and to raise the profile of not only themselves but the hardworking people around them too. My advice? Employ entrepreneurs.
We’re in the middle of a huge shift in work balance where more people than ever are flexi working, setting up their own businesses, working full time or becoming digital nomads, taking their laptop all over the world with them. People are no longer tied to their desks as they have fingers in multiple pies. To reign these skills and attributes into your business, you’ll need to cherry pick the right people with the right values.
A key characteristic of entrepreneurs is a desire to succeed and work hard on what they believe in. This will benefit your business greatly if you can find team members that believe in your brand’s vision, potential and want it to succeed.
Instead of hiring bodies to fill positions and get the job done, find the right people and create jobs based on their skillset which will benefit your business; something I have recently done with our placement turned permanent recruit, Sophie, now our digital PR executive. Spend extra time finding out whether the interviewee shares the same values and business ambitions as you. Entrepreneurs are constantly looking at ways to improve and progress both themselves and the right people will be invested in helping you to build your business. Entrepreneurs understand the value of building relationships, networking and associating with various businesses to keep pathways open for future ideas.
I employed both Emily and Sophie because they are entrepreneurial women that have dreams to set up their own business in the future. Sophie already works one day a week on her own digital design business and Emily has previously worked as a photographer. They both have strengths outside of PR in areas they are experts in that add value to MacComms. For instance, Sophie has added a design element to the business, jazzing up proposals and social media content which is something she really enjoys doing. Furthermore, adding outsourced directors such as Martin our FD and Chris, our newly appointed sales director, adds more entrepreneurs and specific skillsets outside of our core team into the mix.
In order to succeed, businesses must have hardworking employees and associates with an entrepreneurial drive. Recognising the importance of team work, taking risks and having a vision of business success will benefit your company greatly.
