12 questions I walk through with founders when internal chaos starts creeping in
People Systems
- Do we have a clear, repeatable hiring process?
- Are we screening candidates consistently — or relying on gut feel?
- Is onboarding documented, or do we recreate it each time?
- Do managers know how to give — and receive — meaningful feedback?
Compliance & Risk
- Are we compliant in every state where we have employees?
- Are we correctly classifying contractors vs. employees?
- Are terminations handled consistently — and documented properly?
- Do we have an employee handbook anyone actually uses?
Culture & Clarity
- Are our core values written — and visible?
- Do we have the right people in the right roles?
- Do we run performance reviews, or just rely on Slack comments?
- Do people know what’s expected in their roles?
- Are we unintentionally rewarding burnout?
Leadership Insight
If even a couple of these made you pause, you’re not alone. Most early teams hit this messy middle — and I’ve helped founders navigate it without hiring a full HR team.