Identify the constraint
Track where work stalls and what it costs the business. A founder spending time on support may need better onboarding, a product fix or extra capacity. Hiring is one possible response. Understand the recurring workload before making a commitment that changes cash and management demands.
Write outcomes for the first three months
Describe the responsibilities and the evidence of successful performance. For a delivery role, this might include ownership of releases and a reliable review process. Avoid measures that reward activity without a useful result. Confirm the role has the tools and authority needed to succeed.
Choose the engagement model deliberately
Employees, contractors and specialist providers suit different needs, but legal classification depends on the facts and applicable rules. Consider continuity, supervision, confidentiality, intellectual property and access to systems. Seek local advice where needed rather than selecting a label solely for convenience.
Assess and onboard consistently
Use role-relevant discussions and proportionate work samples with clear expectations. Explain the business stage honestly. Prepare access, documentation and an onboarding owner before the person starts. Give early feedback against the outcomes you agreed, and update the role when business priorities change.
Your next steps
- Name the bottleneck and its consequence.
- Define three-month outcomes.
- Budget total engagement costs.
- Assess the appropriate engagement model.
- Prepare onboarding and access controls.