Any business that achieves some level of success eventually hits what one of my clients called, a “crisis of capacity.” This is when you have more to do than time to do it.
I don’t just mean having a lot of things to do on your list, but having more clients, more work, more paying gigs and opportunities than you can follow up on.
In these cases you find what entrepreneurs everywhere have discovered over the ages: “solo self-employed” isn’t true. Whether you’re just hiring a bookkeeper, website slinger, or other help for a limited project, or whether you’ve go full-bore and end up with a payroll, eventually you find you can’t, and shouldn’t do it all yourself.
If you’re new at this, or just recognize that you’re not skilled at it, there’s one thing I want to say. Just one short thing:
Let yourself learn.
There’s a tendency in a crisis of capacity, or really, anywhere in life, to get through what you need to do as quickly as possible, and move on to the next thing.
It’s a disastrous attitude, and with teams it’s especially disastrous.
“But Mark, each step takes so long! I need to move faster!” I’ve heard clients say it, I’ve heard colleagues say it, and I’ve said it myself.
It’s true, too. Identifying what kind of help you need, what that looks like, doing a search and interview process, then working with the new person for a time. Then you figure out that person isn’t going to work out, and you have to start over. Meanwhile, it’s been 3 months or more.
Please, return to your heart. The building up of teams takes time. The finding of the right person takes time. To discern between whether someone is just new and getting used to you or whether they really need to be let go… takes wisdom, experience, and time.
If team is something you need, give yourself some spaciousness about it. Tell yourself that you’re going to spend 1-2 years learning about team, and building up a team.
Here are some past articles I’ve written on this topic: here, here, here, and here.
Plus, later this year we’ll be diving into this topic much more deeply. But for now, I just want you to give yourself permission to have spaciousness to learn about teams, or whatever other time-consuming learning project your business needs to be really amazing.
It’s okay. Life is like that. A garden takes 7 years to grow in, some say. But when it grows in, wow, amazing!
(Have I yet explained how long it takes to support a child into being able to act independently? And how many mistakes are made along the way. And yet how joyful it can be?) <- I think you already made the connection.
Don’t succumb to the quick fix, adrenaline—junkie culture that says everything can be solved with a quick 3 step process (even if it’s a quick, 3-step spiritual process).
Instead, can you find the patience in your heart to build something that can truly last and support you?
I wish for you peace and presence and wisdom in the growth of your business.
Two things to mention here.
First thing: Tad Hargrave is someone I care for personally, who has shown a tremendous commitment to integrity and love and social justice. He’s also one of the smartest cookies in the business/marketing world.
He has a 30 day program called The Meantime. As in, while you’re building your business but need cash, what do you do in the meantime? It starts mid February, and there’s a deadline coming up January 30th. I wish I’d thought of it, but he’s doing it probably much better than I could.
Check it out: The Meantime (affiliate link)
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Because it starts each month, there’s no pressure of our deadline to push you. Just whether your business needs the help, and needs it now.
Yet, to get started this coming Monday, today is the deadline to sign up.
If you like how we do things, why not jump in with us now?
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9 Responses
Mark, I love your metaphor of a garden which takes 7 years to grow in. Teambuilding is really like growing a garden. For my clients, I use a “Teamtree” as metaphor. Teambuilding is so much about personal growth. We need to move from solo-preneur to team leader. This can be pretty scary. What person do I need to become in order to find the right people for my business and successfully “grow” and lead a team? No other job is so much connected with my personal development than being a “leader”. When you hire, checklists and a solid, professional hiring process go a long way. But they are just tools and only helpful, if you have worked through the “deep stuff”. It is not about hiring “staff”, it’s about building the connection to human beings as passionate as you are about your business and its purpose, in tune with your values. It’s about being in learning mode and the willingness to embark on a bumpy journey.
Jutta- Amen! You’re singing my song! I’ve had a hockey stick-shaped growth curve around this issue over the last 8-10 years… I love your “Teamtree” metaphor.
“Slow to hire, quick to fire” is an old, but helpful adage. I’d also add, along the lines of what you offered above, Mark, that one may have to iterate that hiring process. It’s a learning curve for everyone, and maybe a person is good on paper – and maybe even exactly what the company needs for future growth – but the company isn’t ready for it yet. That happens, as does the opposite, where a candidate could really benefit from working for a company, but they aren’t ready yet. Both sides of the hiring equation have to be willing to let go and take the next step in their process. After all, we are each responsible for our own paths. 🙂
Lisa- so, so true, as you know so well. It’s a chagrin-inducing mistake to hire too quickly, and it’s so amazing when things finally start to gel.
Thanks for this, Mark! I’m not at the point of building a team…but am in the process of hiring a bookkeeper. Finding the right fit for this feels super-important to me–partly because I want to learn from him/her rather than just hand over a task and be done with it.
This post was a nice reminder that searching for the right person is really worthwhile. And, even when I find someone who’s a good fit, I’ll want to allow plenty of spaciousness and time to figure out how we’ll work together.
Dana- Yes! Glad it was helpful. And, if you’re willing, I’d like to point out that “I’m not at the point of building a team” and “am in the process of hiring a bookkeeper” are two statements that directly contradict one another, if you know what I mean…
I would embrace the fact that you are at the beginning of your team building journey.
Ha! Yeah, totally–thanks for pointing that out!
Dana- Glad to! #busted
Hi Dana, Thanks for the inspiration, this will be one of my future blog posts: “When are you ready for your team building journey?” … 😉