Your Business: Hiring right with Mike Hewitt, DARKHORSE

Mike Hewitt, co-founder of DARKHORSE.

Mike Hewitt is the co-founder of DARKHORSE, an Auckland-based PR and events business.

How many staff do you currently have?

We have a full time team of seven, including myself and my business partner and co-founder, Liam Taylor. Given the nature of a business like ours, people have a core aspect to their job, but in reality a big part of being involved in a startup means no two days are ever the same. We've found that gives people variety in their roles and the ability to grow into areas of the business that best suits their strengths. Contractors also play an important part in the business, helping us to manage our growth and keep the wheels on.

Taking on your first employee can be a big step for a small business. When did you hire your first employee and how did you know the time was right?

We launched DARKHORSE in November 2012 and initially used a mix of contractors, but we found we needed more consistency and continuity. During our first year we grew quickly, and it became pretty clear we needed to take the plunge and hire because there weren't enough hours in the day for Liam and I to run the business day to day and keep our heads above water with that growth. We hired our first full time employee in October last year, followed quickly by a second in November and we've now got a team of seven.

So now you've made a number of hires in the business, what are some of the key things you've learnt about making the hiring process successful?

Being a startup we've been able to create our own culture. We aren't concerned about what university or school candidates went to, what grades they achieved or didn't achieve; we hire based on attitude, experience, ability to think outside the square and ultimately people who want to buy into our team culture.

All of our hiring has been done through word of mouth or via social media, which we think attracts the right kind of people for our business. Both Liam and I are really relationship-based people and get a quick gut feel on character within seconds of meeting someone - so if they get through that they're halfway there.

In our business there is nowhere to hide and we can't afford to micromanage people, so that means we've needed to find people who can hit the ground running, make quick decisions, back themselves and have a go.

On the other hand, what have been some of the difficulties you've found hiring staff?

One of the big difficulties we've found is the nine-to-five mentality that's historically been the norm in terms of workplace hours in New Zealand. It's been a challenge getting our team into the mentality that as long as they're getting the job done we don't care how many hours they sit or stand behind their desk, or if they work from home, a café or a park bench. One way we've overcome this is by incentivising the team as a whole with a number of goals, which if we hit come April next year we'll all be working from Fiji for a week!

Lastly, what are a couple of tips you'd have for getting new staffers settled into your existing team?

Once they get through the initiation of their interpretive dance I think having a clear understanding of the culture and vision of the company is crucial so they're fully committed and everyone is singing from the same song sheet. We have a flat structure and both Liam and I don't see ourselves as being the boss, which encourages the team to be themselves, not have a work facade or hidden agenda.

We also have an open plan office, which creates lots of banter, impromptu brainstorming or whiteboard sessions and doesn't create an 'us and them' culture. This style of office often produces the best ideas when everyone feels like they are part of the conversation. Occasionally I have to get on the megaphone to rein everyone in but the biggest piece of advice for a new team member would be it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission - just get it done.

Coming up in Your Business: What is the experience like for immigrant entrepreneurs who have set up businesses in New Zealand? If you've got a story to share about the highs and lows of being an immigrant entrepreneur, then drop me a note: nzhsmallbusiness@gmail.com