It is guest post day here at Duct Tape Marketing and today’s guest is Morgan Sims – Enjoy!

Starting a company from nothing is an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. From a staff of 5 founders to 500 employees, there are several things startup CEOs should know and practice while growing their companies. Hiring and keeping the right people and developing the right company culture are two of the most important things for the CEO of a startup.

To operate your startup successfully, consider the following.

Hire the Right People

At the beginning stages of your company, you won’t be able to hire very many people. So take time to consider which positions you need to fill first and hire people who can do a lot of things on their own, since your small staff will have to deal with situations big companies have entire departments for. Your employees need to be innovative and self-starters because you won’t have time to walk them through every step of their jobs.

Consider whether you can first hire people on a freelance basis, so you don’t have to think about benefits and salaries right off the bat. Your colleagues and new employees are great resources for finding more people who would fit well with your new company, so use them.

Be A Good Communicator

Communication is key for keeping a startup going and retaining the best employees. Keep them updated on how the company is doing, especially when you’re in the launch stages and the staff is very small. Continuing this practice as the company grows is in your best interests. Continue to demonstrate passion about the company and your vision for the future, even when things seem rough. Remember, too, that communication goes both ways. Leave channels open for people to communicate with you as well, making sure they stay open with surveys and meetings as you take on more employees.

Be Flexible

As a startup CEO, you’re going to have to be flexible about everything. You’ll need the ability to learn quickly on your feet because things are going to wrong, ventures are going to fail, and projects will fall apart. Learn to adapt to these situations and continue to push your company to grow. You may have to change directions based on data or stop a money-sucking project right in the middle.

A startup probably won’t have enough money to employ specialists like lawyers or analysts off the bat, so you’ll have to get creative to solve some of these problems yourself. You also need to be flexible with employees. Offering telecommuting or nontraditional hours will help you attract and keep great people.

Give Your Employees Tools They Need

No matter how great your employees are, they won’t be able to accomplish much if they don’t have the necessary tools to do their jobs. It might be expensive to get good equipment and programs, but the money spent will be worth it in the long run. Imagine your internet failing in the middle of a big project. Learn more here about the importance of stable Internet connections.

Don’t just think connections and hardware, either. Consider apps and social media tools that’ll help you expand without spending a lot of money. The right software will give your employees the edge they need to help the company grow.

Cultivate Your Company’s Culture

The culture of your company needs to continue to appeal to employees as the company grows. Culture changes as you hire more people, expand into departments, and a bigger hierarchy develops. Your company’s values need to be clear to employees and potential employees. Let people know what working for your company is like and what your current employees enjoy about it.

Making money, attracting customers, and growing the business can’t happen without great employees. A solid business plan and great tech will only get you so far. The right people will be able to support the company, find opportunities for growth, and add even more valuable members to the team. From culture to flexibility to communication, following these tips will help you develop your startup’s best asset: its employees.

Morgan Sims is a writer and recent graduate who loves all things tech and social media. When she’s not trying out new gadgets or reading she spends most of her time with her dog, cooking and staying active. Follow her @MorganSims00.