When building a business, determine the roles the business needs, then fit, develop, hire the right people to fit those roles.
Sounds obvious? Well, it is, and it works, yet it seems so often that businesses default to the reverse, assessing individuals first, then choosing a role for them that they fit, or sometimes, simply that they want to have (and irrespective of fit, oftentimes!).
You may think this only applies to smaller or less-established businesses, but I can tell you from direct experience that it can impact businesses of absolutely all sizes, types, maturity.
Take an honest look at your own business. Do you look at your people first, then fit them into a role, or do you design and define the roles the business needs first?
If you do the latter (please do!), then you may also find it uncomfortable, as, potentially, some of the people in some of the roles may be the wrong person for that role.
Be brave, though, and if you focus upon this in the right way, your people will be energised at the focus given on making sure they fit, as well as inspired and drawn to developing themselves to step further and further up as they continue in their career.