Founder to Founder: Notes from Irene’s Desk : Hiring with Intention: Building teams that build Your Vision

By Irene Ansa-Asare Horsham
Founder, Horsham Consulting | Rector, MountCrest University College

In Ghana, we often treat hiring as a last-minute errand — a checkbox to tick when things get too overwhelming.  A founder needs help, so he calls a friend.  A business owner wants to scale, so she hires her cousin.  A team expands — not through strategy — but through stress and survival.  And yet, we wonder why employees don’t perform, why our teams feel misaligned, why we spend more time managing crises than building systems.

Here’s the truth: you can’t build a world-class business with casual hiring habits.  If you want to build something that lasts — something with clarity, culture, and continuity — then hiring must become a deliberate act. Not a default one.

Your team will make or break you

Every founder eventually realises: “You are only as strong as the people you trust to deliver.”  That front desk officer who turns customers away with her tone.  That finance officer who delays salaries.  That assistant who mismanages sensitive information.  They represent you.  When you’re not in the room, your brand is in their hands.
So ask yourself: Who is carrying your name?

Hiring is a leadership test

The way you hire says a lot about who you are as a leader.  Do you plan ahead or hire in panic?  Do you ask the hard questions — or avoid discomfort?  Do you prioritise loyalty over competence, or both?

Intentional hiring is not just about skill.  It’s about alignment, maturity, trust, and shared values.  Yes, CVs matter. But so does how a person receives feedback; how they treat junior staff; whether they take initiative or wait to be told; whether they operate with integrity when no one is watching.  These are the silent signals of someone who will help build the business — not just clock in.

Five things every founder must do before hiring

1. Get Clear on the Role: What will this person actually do? What outcomes will they be responsible for? What does success look like at 3, 6, and 12 months?
2. Understand Your Legal Obligations: Casual worker? Fixed-term contract? Full-time staff? Ghana’s labour laws are clear — and you must comply, or risk future penalties.
3. Use a Structured Hiring Process: Prepare an interview guide. Ask situational questions. Assign a short task if needed. Don’t rely on vibes or personal connections alone.
4. Put It in Writing: Offer letters. Job descriptions. Employment contracts. Policies. Protect yourself — and the employee — with clarity.
5. Prepare to Onboard:  Your new hire isn’t a miracle worker. Introduce them to your systems, values, expectations. Assign a mentor if possible. Set them up to succeed.

Your first ten hires are everything

If you’re an SME or start-up, this part is critical.  Your first 5–10 hires will shape your business culture forever.  They will determine how future hires behave; set your operational rhythm; influence how clients experience your brand; model what’s acceptable and what’s not

So don’t take it lightly.  Hire slow. Hire smart. Hire with courage.  Even if it means waiting a little longer.  Even if it means saying no to family pressure.  Even if it means doing the work yourself for a while.

From chaos to clarity

At Horsham Consulting, we help founders step into their leadership boldly. That begins with intentional team building.  We’ve worked with businesses that completely transformed once they hired well.  Their culture improved. Their clients noticed. Their confidence grew.  Because finally — they had the right people in the right seats.

That is the power of hiring with intention.  So, founder — before you post that job ad…
Before you bring in your cousin or your friend’s child…  Before you say, “I just need someone to help”…  Ask yourself:  “Am I building a team — or just filling a gap?”  Because a gap can be closed in a day.  But a mis-hire can cost you a year.

Irene Ansa-Asare Horsham is the Founder of Horsham Consulting, a governance and strategy firm supporting African entrepreneurs to build with clarity, courage, and compliance. She also serves as Rector of MountCrest University College. Learn more at www.horshamconsulting.com.

 

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