HR Must-Haves for Growing Startups

What does it take to grow a company from startup to small business? Growing a business isn’t simple. Entrepreneur need to take care of many facets of the business to ensure it is ready for the next phase. One of the most critical aspects is to put together a team of people that can handle the pressure and is ready to make the transition. That is why HR plays a crucial role in this phase of the start-up. Whether the start-ups have a formal HR organization or is handled by the founder team itself here are five must-haves they identified to take your business to the next level.

1. A Culture that Supports Your Purpose. For many entrepreneurs on the cusp of growth, the culture is still go-go-go (and likely will be for a while). But stop working for a second and reflect on what aspirations you have for your company. You need to decide what kind of culture you want your company to have. Start with the end in mind, and then begin identifying what values will help you get there.
2. A Sustainable Operation. Can your business survive a week without you? Of course, it’s hard to loosen the reins. Before you cede control, you need a team you can trust. Getting the best people in the door isn’t easy, but hiring a few temporary contractors can free up some of your time–which you can then spend on finding your rockstars.
   Also, invest time in codifying standard operating procedures. Develop guidelines for how work should get done to keep employees aligned with your culture and desired work style. Even with a small team, a little structure will go a long way.
3. Refined People Process. Once you can afford to take a breath, devote some time to developing people processes. The first step, is developing a great hiring process so you can begin cherry-picking your team. Before you hire anyone, decide how you will define success–for your company, your employees, and your managers–and how you’ll measure it. Apply this to how you score candidates and gauge cultural fit.
   In addition to hiring process you need to put in place HR software solutions to manage day-to-day people management functions such as employee benefits, payroll, expense management and reporting. Without having these solutions in place you run the risk of running afoul on government laws and regulations. number of solutions are available in the market that deliver them via cloud, which reduces your deployment and maintenance cost.
4. A Network of Support. It’s lonely in the driver’s seat. Establishing a network of mentors and non-competing CEOs is pivotal to your personal development and that of your organization. Experts suggest developing a broad network of entrepreneurs so you can learn from them. There are endless resources available for honing your leadership skills.
5. An Eye Open for Improvement. Don’t get too comfortable just because you have things cranking a bit. Even if you’ve built a sustainable organization, your work is far from done. As Turo points out: “Be prepared to work harder (and enjoy working harder) than you ever have in your life.”

You’ll make some mistakes (everyone does), which is why process improvement is always iterative. Learn from them, adjust, and consider how you can optimize for success.