“When you hire the best, the rest is easy!” We have heard this phrase many times, but how do we put this concept into action? We know that hiring the best people is vital to the success of your business, especially for fast growing businesses. And certainly, your customers and clients have high service expectations. So…how do you hire and keep the very best? Let’s start from the beginning.

The job description: Often overlooked, the job description sets the tone for success when hiring new team members. Start by making certain your job descriptions are accurate, up-to-date and reflect your expectations. This is an important step, as it ensures consistency in your hiring practices and says your company is well run.

Tip From The Coach: During the initial interview, be certain to present the job description, so the applicant will have a clear picture of your expectations if your company does hire them. This also helps to generate a more comprehensive conversation regarding the position being offered.

The interview game plan: Prepare a detailed interview game plan, to be used by each person doing the interviewing for your company. This game plan must include: how to evaluate a resume, sample questions to be asked during the interview process, a detailed presentation of compensation, how to do reference checks, and any final hiring details (i.e. company benefits, policy and procedures, etc.).

Tip From The Coach: In addition to the in-person interview, consider the use of written tests and/or assessments to aid in your hiring process. This is key to hiring top people and will help to establish performance standards when hiring new employees.

Fast-track training: Develop a detailed training checklist for all newly hired employees. This should include: an orientation for the first day, a plan for the first week, an outline for the first month, and a recap of the first 90 days that includes expectations for their performance.

Tip From The Coach: By building a thorough and consistent training program, you will quickly develop top performers for your company, a “win-win” for all.

Grow and groom: To hire and keep top people, you must provide a career path to help your best people grow and to be groomed for additional responsibility. This starts in the hiring process, so consider if the person you are hiring has the skills for the current position and might also have the skills for a next level promotion. Then, identify your top candidates for promotion, and build additional training to keep their learning curve on the fast-track.

Tip From The Coach: Done properly, you will always have a “farm-team” of quality individuals ready and able to assume more responsibility. Now, that’s managing for success!

So, follow these four steps and see how easy it is to hire and keep key people! The Coach says so!! Want to hear more about this important topic or ask some additional questions? Send an E-mail to ernest@powerhour.com and The Coach will E-mail back to you a free invitation to be a participant on a PowerHour conference call, tied to the topic above.

Author’s note: Ernest F. Oriente, a business coach/trainer since 1995 [41,000 hours]–the author of SmartMatch Alliances™, and the founder of PowerHour has a passion for coaching his clients on executive leadership, hiring and motivating SuperStars, traditional and Internet SEO/SEM marketing, competitive sales strategies, and high leverage alliances for fast growing sales companies and entrepreneurial businesses. He provides private and group coaching for leaders around the world, investment banking services, executive recruiting services, SEO/SEM web strategies and powerful tools for hiring SuperStars and building dynamic teams. Ernest worked for Motorola, Primedia and is certified in the Xerox sales methodologies. Recent interviews and articles have appeared 9000+ times in business and trade publications and in a wide variety of leading magazines and newspapers, including Smart Money, Inc., Business 2.0, The New York Times, Fast Company, The LA Times, Fortune, Business Week, Self Employed America and The Financial Times. Since 1995, Ernest has written 250+ articles about business success and created 400+ business and marketing checklists, sales letters and presentation tools. PowerHour® is based in Olympic-town Park City, Utah, at 435-615-8486, by E-mail ernest@powerhour.com or visit their website at www.powerhour.com on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook