Your First Hire Will Set Your Culture - Choose Wisely!

Thinking of upscaling in 2026? Read this before you hire your first team member.

Bringing your first employee on board is an exciting milestone. It’s often a sign that your business is growing, demand is increasing, and you’re ready to stop doing everything yourself.

But before you jump straight into posting a job ad, there are a few important things worth considering.

Because your first hire won’t just help you get more work done — they’ll help define how your business feels to work in. And that’s where your culture begins.

It’s not just about them — it starts with you

When you’re a solo founder, your values live mostly in your head. How you communicate, how flexible you are, how you deal with pressure — it’s all instinctive.

The moment someone joins you, those instincts become observable behaviours.

Your first hire will pick up on:

• How you communicate when things are busy

• Whether boundaries are respected

• How mistakes are handled

• What “good work” looks like

• How people are treated when things go wrong

They’ll also mirror you — consciously or unconsciously. So yes - your first hire often sets the tone for every hire that follows - but ultimately they are learning from you.

What should you consider when making your first hire?

When workloads are high, it’s tempting to hire purely based on technical skills. And yes, competence is important.

But early on, attitude and alignment usually matter more than a perfect CV.

Ask yourself:

• Do they share your values?

• Are they adaptable in a fast-changing environment?

• Can they communicate openly and honestly?

• Are they comfortable with ambiguity and learning as they go?

In small teams, one person’s mindset can lift the entire business — or drain it.

You are not just hiring help - you are becoming a manager!

This is the part that many underestimate.

Your first hire marks a shift from doing to leading. Even if it’s just one person, you’re now responsible for:

• Clear expectations

• Regular feedback

• Fair workload distribution

• Legal compliance

• Someone else’s wellbeing at work

If you haven’t thought about how you want to manage people yet, now is the time. Culture isn’t built through policies — it’s built through everyday interactions.

Define your culture before someone else does

Culture will exist whether you design it intentionally or not.

Before bringing your first person on board, take some time to consider:

• What behaviours are acceptable — and what aren’t

• Whether you’re leading by example

• How you want people to feel at work

• How you’ll support growth and development

That clarity helps you hire better, onboard more confidently, and build a culture you’re proud of from day one.

Final Thoughts

Your first hire is more than a practical decision — it’s a cultural one. Getting it right from the start can set your business up for healthy growth, strong relationships, and a team that truly aligns with how you want to work. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

At Holla HR, we support growing businesses to hire with intention, build people-first cultures, and feel confident as they take their first steps into leadership. If scaling is on your horizon for 2026, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your people strategy.