I wanted to continue on the theme of hiring good employees in this post. It’s important because as you sell high priced programs, you will have the cash flow available to expand your business. While you definitely want to reinvest in marketing, you may also want to bring on some additional skills and talents either part-time or full time.

One strategy which as worked well in my business is that of a values based approach. I use this strategy whenever I want to hire new employees, or when I am creating joint ventures with other businesses.

It’s vital that there be a value match before you pursue any type of formalized business relationship.

What is a value match? It means, simply, that the values you think are important are the same ones your potential employee (or partner) also thinks is important. You must understand your own values, and your company values, in order to find the right people to connect with.

It’s a simple fact that people get along better when they share common values. Communication is easier, ideas are shared more freely, and there is less chance of misunderstanding or a negative outcome. (This is assuming, of course, that the values people say they have, and the ones they actually demonstrate are the same.)

When starting any kind of business relationship, especially one that you hope will grow over time, it’s a good idea to start by talking about values. Ask your potential partner or employee what they most value, and see how their list of values compares to yours. The more points of agreement, the better “fit” they are likely to be.

Ask potential employees or partners what they hope to gain from your relationship, as this, too, is a good question to gauge value match, as well as desired outcomes.

When you focus on asking good, values-based, questions at the start of any new relationship, you can proceed more confidently, knowing that there is agreement between what you want, and what the other person is looking for.