Why Are You Hiring a Friend?

I wrote a popular series last year that had to do with doing business with friends and family. I shared some of the ground rules I use when doing business with them and some of my experiences . I see this inclination over and over again, we want to do business with friends because it is the easiest way to get started. There is a reasonable trust base in place  in this scenario, we have  a good idea about the person, and if one is observant we usually know our friend’s  strengths and weaknesses. Personally, over the years, I have found the idea of working with friends and family not the optimal way to go.

We hire friends and they join our teams primarily because they are our friends and we know them. A startup only needs to hire more staff or add partners when the business requires it, when there is a business need that needs to be fulfilled and is currently not being served adequately. We have to understand that a business or startup is a serious matter and not a place for friends to ‘hang out’ together. I am sure you agree there are more interesting things to do with  friends than start a company.

I  recommend using my 8 characteristic checklist, or making your own, based on skills you require. Network excessively and find the right people, those who will bring the skills you need to the table. These will be individuals with different insights and points of views. In essence, they may have the same goals as you, but they may not be ‘like’ you. Putting an initial team together is by far the most critical step in the early stages. Mistakes at this level have enormous repercussions in the future. Do not partner with or hire a friend because they are like you, or that it is easy, make sure you do it for the right reasons.

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