9 Things You Didn’t Know Before: An Interview With Olga Crosse
September 26, 2023
It’s no secret that Tercus HR was born out of the disapproval of bad leadership and corporate greed. It was a Eureka moment that spurred Olga on to build a business that provides real, personalised HR and administrative solutions to SMEs that need to focus on growth.
We managed to pin Olga down between her dismantling of bureaucracy and upheaving administrative practices for a Q&A to get down to the nitty-gritty. We simply had to get inside her labyrinth of a mind and revisit the beliefs, experiences and tales that materialise Tercus HR.
It’s nothing short of enthralling, read on…
1. If Tercus had a dictionary definition, what would it say?
Persistent yet funny. In a matter of sage words, been there, done that.
2. Why did you decide to start Tercus HR? What caused this to happen?
Quite simply I was asked for assistance by some startups and small clients. I had one incompetent boss too many and was tired of the greasy wheel of corporate politics which I wanted no part of and was not particularly suited to.
I love having clients I respect, I hated having bosses I had no respect for. Entrepreneurs are outliers, hustlers, tenacious, chancers, innovative, self-sufficient, self-believers, operating outside of the norms (I am no different). Most people just don’t have the head for starting and running their own business and prefer the security of a 9-5 Monday to Friday – no harm in any of that, it just wasn’t me. I have never regretted a single minute of going it alone even though it’s thrown me a fair share of curveballs and will continue to do so.
3. How do you go about understanding the unique needs of your clients?
Talk to them, listen to them, talk to them some more, listen some more and then act, get results and then act some more. Chemistry works. Most entrepreneurs can’t stand waffle, get in there, deal with the problem and get it done quickly, we hate time wasting and nonsense. I understand my clients because I am one of them. If a client comes along that I am not in sync with, it’s best if we part company and they find someone who is. Most work but some don’t, it’s important to understand who works well very early on in the relationship and that comes with talking to them and dealing with their issues properly and quickly.
4. What is the most common HR issue that small to medium business owners face?
Apart from too much tax and lack of government support, its employees who are entitled, wokeness is becoming a particular issue and working from home is killing productivity.
5. How do you deal with ‘know it all’ leaders?
It’s not leaders who know it all, they come to me because they don’t and I can help them with a problem. It’s know it all employees cause most of the problems.
6. What is the most heartwarming result you have ever achieved with your HR services?
Anytime I pick up an email or call that says a client has recommended me, that’s the biggest compliment you can ever have. I still get emotional when it happens.
7. If your employees were to describe your leadership, what do you think they would say?
Straight to the point, fair, hardworking, quick decisions and at times hilarious without meaning to be.
8. What do you believe are the key components of a successful HR strategy for small businesses?
Bravery for one, things will go wrong just be prepared for them, you can never predict a human being, always give them a contract and have a set of policies procedures and guidelines. Don’t try and be smart and dodgy, it’ll come back to haunt you in time.
9. If you could give your 25-year-old self a piece of advice, what would it be?
Stop worrying, it’ll all work out in the end. Stop caring what people think of you. It’s ok to be fat, far better to be happy. Ditch the detractors and fake friends. There is no pattern or set path in life, no point in pretending there is and seeing where it leads you. Wine is good, but drugs aren’t.
A trip down memory lane
So there you have it, an insight into the makings of Tercus HR. Olga understands what it takes to be a business leader, and is familiar with every single HR issue you could ever face. She doesn’t need to imagine herself in your shoes, she’s been wearing them for a long time.
Olga is aware of the brutal reality of HR, that’s what makes our services so thorough. There’s no beating around the bush, we find solutions and we get them implemented.
You know what you need and you know what you need to do. We look forward to getting your HR on the right path and providing all the help you need to grow your business.
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