533. Scaling and Growth Part 2: Hiring vs. Optimizing

In the second episode of my Scaling Smart mini-series, I dig into the tactical question every practice owner faces once they decide to grow: should you hire, or should you optimize the team and systems you already have? Drawing on my own experience—from my very first psychometrist hire 15+ years ago to the painful lessons of building a 45-person team—I break down the conditions that make hiring smart, the efficiencies that can buy you time without adding staff, and the middle path of cross-training and flexible roles. If you’ve ever felt stuck between “we need more people” and “we should be running leaner,” this episode will help you clarify your next move. Main topics covered: • When hiring truly makes sense (capacity, stepping back, profitability) • Why busy staff don’t always equal profitable staff • Lessons learned from hiring too quickly and without financial modeling • Practical examples of optimization: AI tools, automation, time blocking, and systems fixes • The “middle path”: using contractors and cross-training staff • How to run a simple capacity audit before making your next hire • Why right-sizing is personal and must align with your goals and lifestyle Cool Things Mentioned: • The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting: https://thetestingpsychologist.com/consulting/ • Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists: https://reverbreports.com/