Staffing Smarter

An entrepreneur in need of new employees worries about making a bad choice.

- Adam Bornstein

Q: I run a small business and need to hire in order for us to grow. What’s the best approach for bringing on the right people? —Shane, Toronto

A: Shane, the strength of your team is the strength of your business. But the opposite is also true—hiring the wrong people can pull down your operation and cost you money. When I was in the corporate world, I tried to buy an all-star team. I focused mostly on résumés and achievements. It didn’t work out too well. Later, when I started my own business, I couldn’t afford to buy that kind of team. That forced me to focus on the bigger, tougher question: What actually makes a good employee?