Every employer wants to attract and retain the best talent. Here are three tips from top employers looking to hire professionals in 2021.
Build a team that stays together
Consider the emotional intelligence of those you want to lead in your business. People skills are more important than talent. This may surprise some, but those in positions of power within a company who are considered so special that their impersonal, even bullying, behavior is accepted, is the opposite of how you want to run a business.
Being mean will not bring out the best in people. It will increase your staff turnover and loss of the organization’s investment in people and their talents. You want to have a staff where you will be looking for special gifts for retirement for several of them in time. Your business should run like a sports team that has continually played together. These teams can usually beat superstars playing in a new team over several seasons for just one season.
It doesn’t matter how “good” a new employee looks on paper
For owners of small and medium-sized businesses, it is often the case that recruitment decisions are not good for the organization’s future. The primary focus should be on what the team or company needs, what skills are lacking in you as a leader and within the team itself, and how a new employee could fit into what you are trying to achieve. Simply, you want to hire people to do the things you do not want to do yourself.
The top tip is not to give undue credit to someone who has been to an Ivy League school over another candidate from a community college. Look at both candidates equally, since there is no pride in having an Ivy League recruit if they are not up to the task. Look at candidates equally, and do not be swayed by the kudos of a particular school or how clever you are to recruit from such a pool.
Even with the best will globally, some recruits turn out not to be a good fit. Admit when this happens and make changes when necessary. Letting people go should be handled with empathy and respect since it is an integral part of running your business.
Firing is more important than hiring staff
When hiring for your business, you want someone who complements the team and has a communication style that fits with those they work with, since this stops any need to micromanage an individual. You also want someone enthusiastic about the work and secure in their own abilities to do the job well. These are people who can be flexible and who will take up opportunities as they are empowered.
Not all hiring decisions will be a success, and that’s OK. The most important tip is to recognize the poor fit between the individual and your organization and to action this as soon as possible. This is vital, so that company culture remains positive. For example, if a member of your staff refuses to treat others with respect, assuming themselves to be more talented than the rest, this can significantly impact your business, lowering morale and losing your credibility if it is not dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
Employers need to reward people based on merit. Removing those without merit requires a level of self-awareness and humility from the employer, knowing that this will help the organization and themselves. Moreover, there may come an unfortunate time when the company had to let go of some people due to financial hardships. This can be done while maintaining a good brand image by showing sincerity to outgoing employees through open communications and an outplacement program.
