Making A Decision
Making the decision to get help and hand some of your work to someone else is a great starting point.
This will free you up to focus on the work that requires your particular expertise and knowledge.
The next step is to train them up in the particular task you need done. Without the correct training, even the most enthusiastic helper, assistant, or employee will not achieve everything you had hoped.
To set you down the right path towards effectively training someone on a particular task, I’d like to share with you four key concepts.
Start with the end in mind
What is the outcome of the task? What does success look like? Be clear and specific and include examples and measures to gauge the successful completion of the task. Knowing the bigger picture allows all involved to do their job with intention and vision.
Set out the steps
Get a whole bunch of post-it notes and write out each of the main steps involved in completing that task. Once you’ve done that, put them in the right order from beginning to end.
Ensure there’s a good logical flow and that you don’t put in too many steps or make it too complicated. The instructions need to be straightforward and understandable for anyone who was to see them for the first time, with no prior knowledge.
Create checkpoints
Predetermine stages at which a check-in is required. Then, as the individual does the work you and they can check it and course correct if necessary. This allows you to pick up mistakes and misunderstandings early and allows them to learn and embed it.
Document it.
This is your bonus tip. Make it easy to understand and you can use this document later on as a reference and a training resource for future staff. Flowcharts often work best. Future-proofing at its most simple!
Conclusion
There you have it. A basic guide to ensuring that your training efforts are successful for everyone involved. Remember that your helper may not get things exactly right the first time—and they can’t read minds, so you need to lay it out. Don’t let early hurdles make you give up on the idea of bringing someone else in, because good help can be a lifesaver and the rocket fuel that your business needs to grow.
Whatever you do, don’t skip over the checkpoints. These are crucial, allowing issues to be picked up early on while they are easy to fix.
For more business insights, get in touch with the Halo team. We offer free 30-minute strategy sessions to get you started, and have a wealth of experience to draw on for trades businesses.
