Do You Have The Right People On The Bus?

With the best will in the world, if you don’t have the right people, in the right roles, doing the right work, you will struggle to achieve your growth objectives in a sustainable way.

We often hear the phrase “getting the right people on the bus”, and it’s a simple but powerful analogy. Your business is the bus, with its own destination and route. To get there, you need the right passengers in the right seats. If you’re trying to force a square peg into a round hole, it doesn’t matter how hard you push, it won’t fit, and the friction it creates can slow everything down.

The Importance of Strategic Hiring

Hiring is not just about filling a vacancy. It’s about understanding what your business really needs to move forward. Too often, companies hire reactively, plugging gaps in the short term without considering whether the person (or the role itself) is aligned with the bigger picture. Strategic hiring means identifying the skills, experience, and mindset required not only for today, but for the future you’re building.

Clarity on Roles and Responsibilities

Equally important is internal clarity. Even the most talented team member will struggle if their role is poorly defined or overlaps with someone else’s. Lack of clarity breeds frustration, inefficiency, and sometimes conflict. When everyone knows exactly what is expected of them, and how their work connects to the wider goals, the team becomes more focused, accountable, and effective.

Restructure, Redeploy or Recruit

Not every misalignment means someone has to leave the business. Sometimes it’s about restructuring roles to better suit existing strengths, or moving someone into a new position where they can add real value. Other times, it becomes clear that new skills or perspectives are needed, and that’s when a strategic recruitment process comes in. The key is recognising the gap early, before it undermines your growth.

How I Work With Businesses

As a growth strategy consultant, I start by working with the owner or management team to identify the core objectives of the business. Then we look at the people they have in place to achieve those objectives. Very quickly, the gaps become visible. Together, we figure out how to plug those gaps, whether that’s by reshaping existing roles, supporting and developing the team, or bringing in fresh talent where it’s needed.

When the right people are in the right seats, everything changes. The business has clarity, momentum, and confidence in its ability to grow.

Many business owners feel this challenge, but don’t always know where to start. If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear about your experience and explore how we can shape the right structure for growth together.