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Assess your hiring, structure and leadership readiness before your next phase of growth
Scaling a team is one of the biggest shifts a founder will make. This checklist is designed to help you step back and assess whether your current team, structure and leadership approach are set up to support your next stage of growth.
Use this checklist to identify gaps to prioritise your next hire and build with confidence.
1. Clarity on hiring needs
☐ I can clearly define the problem this hire will solve
☐ I know what success looks like in the first 90 days
☐ The role has clear responsibilities and ownership
☐ This hire will directly impact growth, efficiency or delivery
Notes:
2. Role prioritisation
☐ I understand the biggest constraint in the business right now
☐ I am prioritising hires based on impact, not job titles
☐ I know whether I need revenue, product, operations or leadership support
☐ have considered whether a generalist or specialist is more appropriate
Notes:
3. Team structure readiness
☐ Current roles and responsibilities are clearly defined
☐ There is alignment on priorities across the team
☐ I have identified how this hire fits into the wider structure
☐ The team can support onboarding and integration
Notes:
4. Leadership readiness
☐ I am ready to delegate ownership, not just tasks
☐ I am comfortable stepping back from day-to-day execution
☐ I have time to support, manage and develop new hires
☐ I understand how my role is evolving as the business grows
Notes:
5. Operational readiness
☐ We have basic processes in place to support growth
☐ Communication is clear and consistent across the team
☐ We have the tools and systems needed to support new hires
☐ Adding people will improve efficiency rather than create confusion
Notes:
6. Financial readiness
☐ We understand the full cost of hiring (salary, tools, time)
☐ The business can sustain this hire beyond the short term
☐ We know how this hire contributes to financial performance
☐ We have clarity on when this hire should deliver a return
Notes:
7. External support and perspective
☐ I have access to experienced advice when making hiring decisions
☐ I have considered whether external support (advisor or NED) is needed
☐ I am open to challenge and different perspectives
☐ I am learning from other founders at a similar stage
Notes:
Final reflection – Before making your next hire, ask: Will this decision move the business forward in a meaningful way?
If the answer is unclear, more clarity is needed.
If the answer is yes, you are likely in a strong position to scale your team.