They say admitting you have a problem is the first step. So, I admit that I am terrible at hiring people. Generally I am stretched too thin or just too busy to really do an in-depth interview process. Without fail, I desperately need a body in that desk, so I hire the best of what is in front of me. 

The problem with this process is that throughout the season, that person starts to fail me. When I dial into the core reason for that, it is because I probably didn’t hire the best person for the job. I hired the best available at that moment, when I probably should have held out for a better candidate.

As part of making 2018 a better year at work, I am trying to plan in advance. I have outlined what I need to do, and from there, I broke the list down and found help where I need it. I am reaching out to experts in areas that my co-workers or I need help in. It is OK to admit that you are not the best at everything. And like I said before, I am not great at hiring.

To make 2018 smoother for new employees, I reached out to a local temp agency. I made a deal with them that they would find and interview all of my job candidates. I gave them a list upfront of the jobs I needed to fill and what those jobs entailed.

I’m sure you are thinking this sounds expensive, but actually it was not as much as I thought it would be. On top of that, I can hire people later in the year because the hiring process takes less time. I know that the candidates coming through the door have the basic skills I am looking for because they have been vetted by the agency. The best part of the whole deal is that if the person doesn’t work out, I have a new candidate the next day.

Think of how much time and energy this process will save me. By reaching out to an expert, I have freed up time to focus on things I love. I can sell new events, plan new marketing strategies and put my time toward the parts of my job that are the most pleasant.

I know it can be hard to reach out for help. As a small-business owner, we expect to be able to carry the entire load. Usually we do this to save money; but if we don’t do the job correctly, we just have to do it twice. So did we really save any money at all?

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About the author: Alexandra Townsend is co-owner of A Royal Flush, based in Philadelphia.