5 Ways to Build a Strong and Committed Team
One of the most efficient ways to navigate through Tax Season is by hiring a seasonal team to help keep things running smoothly. Unfortunately, hiring good team members is no easy feat, and retaining them is even harder. With Tax Season around the corner, it’s time to start searching for those team members and start thinking of ways to retain them through the end of the season. To help you build the best team possible, we’ve put together a few key ways to build a strong and committed team.
Evaluate Your Current Staffing Structure
How does your current structure compare to your revenue and growth goals? Ask yourself if any changes need to be made. Do you have enough staff to support all the work you anticipate this tax season? Is your current team well-trained and able to take on additional work? Your answers can help you determine if additional staffing is even necessary. Just because most people need seasonal staff, doesn’t necessarily mean that you do. Take the time to see if this is something that works for you. This could potentially save yourself time and money down the line on members you might not have even needed and better invest in the members currently on your team.
Start Your Search Early
Avoid going into panic mode this season by having your go-to temporary staff resources ready before you actually need the help. You might be wondering where to start your search, and a great first step is at local higher education institutions. Students are always looking to gain real-world experience and what better way to prep them for the real world than tax season! Another great place to search is online. Look beyond sites like Indeed and LinkedIn, and start looking at freelance sites like Upwork. Sites like these help you see what kind of projects freelancers have completed, and can help facilitate the hiring and payment process.
Create a Very Clear Subcontractor Agreement
A very large reason for staffing turnover is the lack of expectations that are set during the hiring process. As you go through the interview process, make sure candidates understand how your firm operates and the kind of hours they will be putting in this tax season. By being honest from the beginning and setting defined expectations of the work they will be doing, people are more likely to meet or exceed those expectations.
Be Proactive About Your Onboarding Process
If you don’t have an onboarding process developed, it’s time to get it started. This process should be specific to individual job descriptions and last no less than a full week. It’s unrealistic to expect new hires to just pick up on how your firm operates. Take the time to walk them through your day-to-day processes and your tech stack. This can go a long way in bypassing potential future mistakes and save you the time you might spend trying to fix them. If you find that you are unable to properly train staff, especially when it comes to your software tools, consider utilizing services from your software providers. For example, SmartVault provides training for full-time and seasonal staff so that they learn how to use our DMS to store, manage, share, and request files.
Treat Yourself and Your Staff
Last but not least, reward your team – including yourself! Tax season may not be easy, but you can help make it rewarding. Treat your team to a group lunch or happy hour. However you decide to thank your staff, the goal is to make them feel appreciated enough to want to return next season!
