 Hiring people, in and of itself, is not the most important thing that a company or organization does.
Hiring the right people, though, might very well be most important (followed closely or superseded by retaining the right people). However, it’s not enough to hire one or two great people every once in a while. No, to ensure that your business continues to grow and expand the way you’d like, hiring great people should be one of the hallmarks of your organization. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and a company is only as strong as its weakest employee. That’s why your employee chain should be strong all the way across, with no weak links in sight. With that in mind, below are five tips for consistently hiring great people: #1—Write the best, most detailed job description possible. You can’t find what you want (or who you want) until you know exactly what (or who) you want. The job description isn’t just for job seekers; it’s also for those who are looking to hire. If you have a muddy or indistinct job description, then you have no right to complain when you can’t find the right candidates. #2—Hire for the cultural fit, too. Yes, the person must possess the skills and experience necessary to carry out the duties of the position. But how well do they mesh with other members of the team? Will they contribute to a positive company culture? Or will they be a “cancer in the clubhouse,” as the sports saying goes? #3—Solicit referrals from existing employees. If you’ve already hired great employees, then it stands to reason that those employees might know other people who could also turn into great employees. Every organization should have a formal referral program that rewards employees for helping you hire the best candidates possible. Your next great hire could be just a conversation away. #4—Seek out self-motivated individuals. NFL Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers was not one for giving motivational speeches. When once asked why this was the case, he said, “If I have to motivate you, I’ll fire you.” Motivating employees takes time, energy, and money. Why waste those precious commodities if you don’t have to? Instead, hire people who motivate themselves. #5—Hire passionate people. Let’s face it: some people are more passionate than others. In the majority of cases, those who are passionate are more productive—in all areas of their life. One reason is that they’re more likely to be self-motivated (see #4). In addition, their passion and enthusiasm can influence their co-workers, and before you know it, more people within your organization are displaying an optimistic attitude. How many of these tips does your organization employ when hiring people? If it’s not all of them, which ones do you need to implement? Comments are closed.
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