Your business is only as good as the people you recruit. As an entrepreneur you’ll be used to driving everything forward yourself tapping into a variety of skills and competences and learning quickly to develop and foster what you don’t have.

As you expand though and need more people that’s when it can get a whole lot trickier. You will be bombarded with people who have great CVs and LinkedIn profiles or you might even end up recruiting people within your network who will undoubtedly have all the right skills in terms of your business or product and seem like the best people to take on.

But when it comes to performance, productivity and commitment you need to also find people who are actively developing and working on these 7 skills:

1.      Adaptability – this is about being flexible and ok with uncertainty and change and someone who is not afraid to leave their comfort zone and try new things.

Surprise them with an unexpected task or problem to solve or ask them about the last time they failed at something or how they stretch their comfort zone. Their answers to these will tell you everything you need to know about how adaptable they are.

2.      Critical Thinking – rather than being about philosophizing what you are looking for here is the ability to question assumptions (both their own and others’) and to always ask lots of questions.

You need fluid, creative and resourceful thinkers who can problem-solve and work well with others.

3.      Empathy – empathy is the key for successful, collaborative and effective professional relationships.

You need people who can listen well, pay attention and focus. Even though we are all tied to our Smartphones look at this behaviour in people a lot more closely, including yourself! If you’re unable to be present and in the moment then you’re equally unable to fully listen to others and be more reactive as a result.

Those who cultivate empathy will own the world and their business will be supercharged with success.

4.      Integrity – this is all about values and how we behave in practice regardless of what we might say or the veneer we present to the world online.

Do we do what we say we would do, keep promises, even the smallest ones, are we committed and accountable? Trust is everything in business. If you don’t trust the people you are recruiting your business will fail.

Does trust need to be earned? Probably, but test it out first by simply asking some questions about values, how they make decisions and to what extent they feel accountable for their actions and commitments.

5.      Optimism – in business you need to look for radiators and not drains. This is an easy one to spot because people so often bring their inner energy into the room with them. It can be quite tangible sometimes.

We all know how it feels to be around someone with low energy – if that’s your feeling with someone, regardless of how great they may be on paper, don’t hire them!

6.      Being proactive – you need employees and colleagues that are able to take the initiative and work autonomously. When things are changing so fast you need people who can spot opportunities that even you can’t and have the freedom and autonomy to act on them.

This is also about proactively problem-solving and being solution seekers.

7.      Resilience – a hot topic right now and a key skill you want in the people you take on. This is all about being able to bounce back fast from setbacks and rejection and to not be afraid to make mistakes.

Failing fast – getting out there and failing and then learning and bouncing back are key here. So why not ask them about the last time they failed at something?

Make 2019 the year you look for these skills and you’ll have the best year ever with the best people to nurture and grow your business!

Emma-Sue Prince is an inspirational soft skills and effective behaviours expert and author of 7 Skills for the Future, (Pearson) out 22nd January, and available on Amazon priced £12.99.