Eight questions that every small and medium sized business owner wants to know the answers to but never wanted to ask.

1. 8 COMMON
small business HR
questions &
answers
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Compiled by the folks at staffsquared.com
www.staffsquared.com

2. What questions should a manager ask during an interview?
• Actions speak louder than words - ask a candidate to perform tasks
and watch how they perform rather than spending hours talking
• Look for four things: Passion, effectiveness, horsepower, cultural fit
•
Request examples of what they do outside of work that helps them
stay on top of their particular skillset and industry
• Ask the candidate to educate you on a topic that they’re passionate
about. You will quickly learn whether they can communicate clearly
and this is a great conversation starter
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3. What is the biggest HR challenge for businesses?
•
Finding and keeping talent - you don’t know what you’ve got until
it’s gone!
• Employee’s personal issues
•
Managing limited resources and budget
•
Getting to know and then developing a team
• Hiring and firing people
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4. What are the best ways to manage a remote worker?
• Introduce them to the team at the outset
• Communicate the values and culture of the company clearly
•
Create places where knowledge can be written down and easily
shared. An online wiki is ideal for this
• Hold regular catch up meetings (once a week is ideal)
• Take advantage of technology to overcome communication and
logistical barriers
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5. How do you help an under-performing member of staff?
• Thoroughly review their role, tools, motivations and what is
expected of them to search for clues as to the cause of their lack
of performance
• Think about any potential issues outside of work that could be
causing problems in work
•
Have you got the right person doing the wrong job?
• Engage with the member of staff and ask them probing questions
about their understanding of the job you’re asking of them. Perhaps
you haven’t clearly communicated your requirements?
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6. What are the best ways to manage creative employees?
• Make sure you show respect for their craft, and in return they will
respect your management
• Set deadlines for work so as not to fall foul of Parkinson’s law (work
expands to fill the time available for its completion)
•
Give creative people the right space and equipment that they need
to do their job
• If possible be flexible on when your employees work, inspiration
isn’t generally confined to the hours between 9am and 5pm
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7. How do you manage people that have a unique skillset?
• Give them the opportunity to explain the what, how and why of
what they do
• Demonstrate pride in your contribution to the team, and the
employees will do the same in return
•
Clearly communicate your company objectives
• Try not to over supervise, and instead let employees report back to
you in a structured manner
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8. How do you fire an employee?
•
Act quickly - if you need to take affirmative action don’t drag the
situation out
• Prepare - what are you going to say? Why are you saying it?
•
Think about how the employee will react and have answers to their
questions or reactions prepared
•
Remove access to business critical systems if you feel the employee
might seek ways to take revenge
•
Put together a package that makes it easy for the employee to leave
• Stay firm but friendly, avoid making emotional statements
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9. Let us help
Staff Squared is HR software for busy business
people. We make managing your employees
simple.
Email: hello@staffsquared.com
UK Freephone: +44 (0) 800 033 7569
US Freephone: +1 (855) 642-1069
Go online: www.staffsquared.com
@staffsquared
facebook.com/staffsquared