Whether you’re hiring or seeking a contracted virtual resource right now, finding the right people (or anyone with a heartbeat for that matter!) who can do the job is hard work. In fact, it’s harder than ever before.
According to the 2022 Workforce Skills Survey, over 90% of businesses are experiencing workforce shortages. (BusinessNSW June 2022)
In every industry, our members report that finding people is their biggest challenge right now. There’s plenty of work to be done, just not enough people to do it.
If you’re struggling with this problem in your business right now, you’re not the only one. And you’re not doing anything fundamentally wrong.
This challenge presents an opportunity tap into your networks for support and find ways to collaborate and deliver as a united front. When resources are scarce, working together means everyone rises together.
How do I find a strong resource pool?
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Tap into your Industry Cluster
Use the power of networking and existing connections to offer and ask for help to spread the workload. The Chamber’s Business Directory is a good starting point to connect with and get to know other businesses in your sector who could be great collaboration partners.
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Connect with the Recruitment and HR firms
There are plenty of recruitment and HR firms within SHBC and your local community to seek guidance from.
Most firms provide various options to find and recruit people to match your business needs, maturity, and budget. Whether you’re looking for contracts, virtual support, labour hire, or permanent employment, they can advise what’s legal and what’s not.
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Let people know you’re looking for help/staff
Social media and recruitment sites allow you to announce you’re looking to fill roles. But before you post a Job Ad, ensure your offering is correct and the wording is checked by either a HR/Recruitment professional or Employment Lawyer – even if you’re doing the recruitment process yourself.
Capacity – the underlying problem
We know there’s a gap in the pool of skilled people resources. This stems from pressures related to the pandemic and the deficit of visa workers. But is that really the root of the problem?
The reality is – most people are struggling with overwhelm and fatigue. As a result, we’re often less productive than we were 2 years ago.
Things that were fast and easy to accomplish each day prior to the pandemic and lockdowns, seem to take inordinate energy from us in current times. Our ability to complete tasks and produce results at the same rate as we did before has diminished. Many of us are still operating within perpetual uncertainty as well.
When you look at the increased workload and shortage of staff, it’s no wonder we’re struggling to keep our heads above water.
So how do you keep yourself going – and navigating through the recruitment process – without burning out?
The answer is – do less!
It sounds counter-intuitive, but when looking back over the past few months, how many times have you said, “I wish I’d been more efficient” or “I wish I had taken time off”?
Yes, we’ve all got bills to pay, families to feed, and responsibilities to fulfil.
But here’s the thing. You don’t need to do everything yourself. There’s always someone else who can do some of the work for you. And if you can delegate some of the work, then you might actually have time left over to focus on the important stuff.
So instead of doing everything yourself, start delegating
If you want to grow your business, stop thinking about the tasks you need to do and start focusing on the things that will move you forward. That means letting go of the little things that hold you back. It also means asking people to help you.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, think about how much easier life would be if you didn’t have to do everything yourself.
Let go of the little things
If you’re running a small business, you might already have people working for you. But have you thought about using them as potential resources to action those little tasks on your plate?
For example, when was the last time you delegated administration tasks? Yes, it might be easy enough for you to action them yourself – but this means taking your focus away from those more important projects on your to-do list.
Reprioritise your tasks and activities – and set realistic goals
If you prioritise your time wisely and help your team do the same, you’ll all be more productive.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, set realistic goals for yourself and your team. You don’t have to be perfect. Just focus on one task at a time before moving onto the next.
Focus on completion, rather than perfection
Perfectionism is a huge drain on our mental health and often leads to procrastination. Instead, focus on completion and ensuring you deliver on your promises. Remember, if you say you’ll do something, you should do it.
Reset expectations for your customers
Given the strain on your resources, be more conscious of what you’re promising to deliver. This will help you come through on those promises and relieve the pressure.
Give your business space to cater for the extra delays and gaps in your resources by proactively setting more realistic deadlines for customers.
Implement routines to help you focus
You may find that having a routine helps you stay focused and organised. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider implementing a routine into your day to help you keep track of your priorities. This doesn’t mean you won’t ever be interrupted, but it does mean knowing where you stand with your to-do list.
Consider using an app or planner tool to manage your daily tasks as well as your team’s. This allows you to create projects and assign tasks to different members and oversee their progress – even if working remotely.
You could also implement a weekly check-in meeting. Ensure everyone in the team knows and agrees upon the week’s priorities, key issues, resource availability, and where the load can be shared.
Make sure the culture of your workplace supports productivity and collaboration
When you’re all under stress, your team will need to work harder. Ensure your organisation has a collaborative culture that encourages open communication, the sharing of ideas, and support for each other’s roles to help you succeed together.
Be honest with your team and encourage them to be open and honest with you. It’s important to be transparent when communicating the proposed deadlines, workload ahead of you, and how long it might take to complete.
Think outside the square
We tend to revert to the simplest and most common solutions when looking to recruit and fill resource gaps. But you could be missing some great resourcing solutions and opportunities, such as:
- Virtual and flexible workers
- People with disabilities and those in Transition To Work programs
- Seniors looking for part-time work
- School leavers and teenagers looking for casual work
- Interns studying at Uni / TAFE etc
- Working Visa holders
- Regionally located (eg regional NSW) employees who can work remotely
If you need help finding support for your business as you navigate the skills and staff shortage, contact the Sydney Hills Business Chamber. We can connect you with businesses in the region that can assist you.
And remember to book your tickets for the July 2022 Business Lunch – where we’ll tackle the ‘people and jobs challenge’ together.
Become a member of the Sydney Hills Business Chamber so you can be supported by other business owners, connect with referral sources, and explore opportunities for joint-ventures and collaborations.