Talent Hunt-Getting it Right

Recruiting and getting the right "talent" in organizations is one of the most important leadership abilities.  Whether the buzzword is "talent management" or "human resources", it all comes down to having the right people.

A recent post in Workopolis blog "New Rules for the Talent Hunt" highlighted how the job market is changing, with tips for recruiters and candidates.  From this post, I found 3 key components that I feel are really critical to be aware of, when you are a leader searching for the right people:

a. Hire a person, not a resume.  Spend time getting to know people in interviews: who they are, how they will contribute, and how well they will fit into your organization.

b. Getting it wrong can be costly. "Hiring the wrong person will cost you 2.5 times that person’s salary."* Getting it right is worth the reward of the time you invest in really getting to know people in interviews.

c. Fulfillment is the new corner office. Employee happiness (and productivity) is a result of fulfillment on the job. Engaged employees achieve more. Beyond hiring the right people, invest in keeping each person engaged and thus, achieving results on the job. Find out what is important to each person individually, to maintain fulfillment in his/her career.

* Source: Society of HR Management 2007

3 Top Tips to Overcome Overwhelm

Overwhelm is rampant these days, as we are all asked to do more with less. 

Here are three practical tips for dealing with overwhelm, to focus on what really matters, and see tangible results each day:

1. Decide what is really important. Focus on projects or goals that really matter.  If possible, put less important projects aside for the time being, or take them off your plate completely.  Scattered thinking and associated feelings of overwhelm will begin to subside once you have decided to focus on what really matters. To keep your projects or goals front of mind, post them in a visible place that you will see throughout each day.
2. Chunk it down.  You make progress day by day, step by step.  Take a step each day towards your goals.  Make a list of the top 3 actions you will take, each day, that will make the most difference in achieving your goals. Put these 3 actions first, and address them before you do anything else. No checking e-mail; no getting distracted surfing the internet! Put First Things First.
3. Measure what matters.  You have identified what is really important.  You take actions towards your goals each day.  Now track your progress towards those goals. There is always a way to quantify your progress, if you are clear on the ultimate outcome. Review your progress, each day, each week, each month. You will soon see how you are achieving more, with less.

Weekly 1 Hour Time-Outs for Leaders

Check out this advice from the Behavioural Coaching Institute:

"All leaders, especially today, need to develop the discipline to engage in a weekly 1 hour time-out meeting with themselves and a leadership/executive coach.

With leaders dealing with all kinds of internal and external challenges, many consider themselves too time poor to stand back and consider today's serious issues deeply and to honestly appraise their leadership. Yes, leaders find this difficult and many also claim any time spent on such reflection is a luxury that they cannot afford. However, this is a huge mistake if they take this posture. These leaders are failing themselves, their teams and their organizations.

The invaluable 'time out' from their 'game time' should be used with their coach to reflect upon their actions, what they have learned, what they have not been doing, what more they could do and how they can achieve that end."

Carving out an hour each week to reflect, refocus and re-engage is a discipline I know works, from personal experience.  When I take the time for it.  Whether it is with a professional mentor coach, or when I self-coach. What works for me is to use an hour at the end of each week, to reflect on what has worked for the last week, and plan where to focus my efforts for the next week.  With time-outs, I am much more productive and focusing on what really matters.

Coaching Challenge: What "time-out" discipline will help you become a better leader?