Every business manager should have a staffing plan. A staffing plan essentially informs you of two things. First, it lets you know exactly how many positions are currently filled within your company. Second, it helps ensure that each position is filled with the most qualified candidate. Staffing plans help companies run optimally by filling each position with the employee most suited to the task. This level of organization can help a business go from good to great. Here’s how to create a staffing plan!
Remember Your Business Goals
When creating a staffing plan, consider what you want to accomplish. A staffing plan is a means to help accomplish your company goals. Therefore, you need to keep your specific goals in mind. Where do you want your company to be in 5 years? What do you need to do in the next year to stay on track for that goal? What about each quarter? Measuring your growth at regular points ensures you’re still on your way to meet your goals. One Harvard study yielded interesting results.
- 83% of the population has no goals
- 14% have some sort of direction, but nothing written down
- 3% have clear, specific goals written down.
What’s interesting about this is the 14% who have goals are 10 times more successful than those without goals. The 3% with written goals are 3 times more successful than the 14% with unwritten goals. The more specific your goals are, the more likely you are to meet them. After identifying your goals, determine what you need to reach them.
Determine What You Need To Reach Your Goals
A staffing plan will help you meet your goals by identifying what you need within your company. Regardless of what your company goals are, your staffing plan demands you meet your company needs. This second step to creating a staffing plan means taking inventory of your company. Not just products or services, but all available assets. This is meant to help identify weak areas that you can address. For instance, if your goal is to increase company sales by 6% over the next quarter, but you only have 2 employees in sales, you probably need to hire more people for sales. Staffing plans let you know what you need to meet your goals by showing you the weaker areas in your company.
Sometimes the need to fill a position is great and immediate. Especially if it’s for a project and not a long-term position. A great way to meet the needs of your company is to utilize a staffing agency such as Techbridge. This allows you access to who you need quickly and efficiently. This, in turn, will help make sure you stay on track to meet your company goals.
Utilize Your Current Assets
Staffing plans identify current company positions as well as who is employed. When a need arises, sometimes it’s best to avoid bringing in additional personnel right away. For instance, if your goal is to reduce company costs, hiring additional employees may not always be the best course of action. Consider who you already have, and utilize your current assets. One study shows that 1 in 5 employees are in the wrong job. So it’s good to make sure that each employee is currently in the position they are best suited for. Cross-training your team is a great way to maximize benefits. Essentially, you’re choosing quality over quantity. However, whether cross-training or hiring, be specific. Just as you are specific with your goals, be very clear about each job role and what you want that position to accomplish. This avoids confusion or miscommunication down the road and helps keep things running smoothly. Remember, the whole goal of a staffing plan is to help you reach your goals by making sure everyone is where they should be. Consider running a gap analysis to identify who you have and how to utilize them.
Continue To Meet Your Company’s Needs
No staffing plan is perfect forever. As your company grows and evolves your needs will change. Be flexible in these times of growth and continue to analyze your company and the needs that arise. Be willing to meet those needs and foster your team. Hire top talent when needed. By staying determined and planning around company needs, you can ensure you stay on course.
How Can TechBridge Help?
Our goal is to bridge the gap between business and employee, matching qualified workers with the companies who need them. If you have any further questions or you’re ready to start the recruiting process, contact us today!
