You Need to Hire Great People. But Why Do So Many Bypass You?

New talent is the lifeblood of most companies. Recruits bring in new skills, energy, and passion. They not only help companies deal with what needs to get done, but also discover what can be done. They not only fill leadership gaps, the upgrade the level of leadership within your firm.

But the best recruits are quite naturally a demanding lot. They know they are valuable, and from that position they know that they can afford to be discerning about where they choose to work. Increasingly, the bar for companies needing to recruit has been risen, as more and more talent looks for purpose and meaning in their careers. As such, more of them actively search out companies that have a commitment to improving the well-being of their employees, their customers, the society, and the planet.

Unfortunately, many companies haven’t yet recognized this important vetting criteria. And sadly, when they compete head-on with firms that have, they tend to lose.

Of course, you can’t simply suddenly say you have a purpose, and start featuring it in your recruitment advertising. Savvy recruits are able to see right through vapid purpose statements and false promises.

You first have to do some soul-searching. You have to put on the hat of empathy and start seeing your company, it’s impacts and it’s outcomes from the point of view of others.

Through this kind of exploration you’re likely to find the solid basis for a purposeful promise. When rooted in truths about what your company does and how it does it, such a promise resonates authentically with recruits.

But again, such a purposeful promise can’t remain simply as window-dressing. Your company must do what it promises. Your workplace culture needs to align to your purposeful promise. Your firm’s processes, procedures, and policies need to reflect its meaningful intent of increasing well-being. Customers, employees, and recruits must clearly see and feel the evidence of your purposeful promise. Otherwise, its just damaging marketing hype.

When you’re ready to operate with a purposeful promise, your competitors will wonder what happened. Your customers will be pleasantly surprised, and suddenly feeling more loyal to your company and its products. Your employees will work with greater purpose and feel they’re doing work that truly matters.

Don’t sail the sea of modern business with a rudderless ship. Take command of your company’s destiny. Find your North Star and align everyone and everything to it. And set your sails toward a brighter future.