In today’s world people are not looking to be sold something. They are looking to be served. Looking for a resolution to some situation which your product or service can mitigate to reduce some stress in their life. This is true of not just the acquisition of goods and services but also in the workplace as it related to the recruitment and hiring of talent.
As part of our efforts to guide business leaders into more bountiful outcomes in a timelier fashion, there inevitably comes a time when talent becomes a topic of conversation. Talent being those individuals who are part of the team (or not) pulling in a common direction for the betterment of the whole team and organization.
This process of talent acquisition and placing members on the team in the right places, focused on the proper priorities, is critical to the end results of the organization. It starts well before the actual hiring of the talent. It begins with the leadership defining and living to the Purpose, Vision, Core Values, Philosophies, and course of action the business will hold itself accountable to moving forward.
Talent in the marketplace is looking to be part of something. The concept of having a job verses being on, and part of a winning team are vastly different. Therefore, we as leaders must change our mindset about the process of engaging talent. As leaders, we are no longer giving talent an opportunity to have a job. I realize this is particularly challenging to come to grips with but the sooner you open up your mindset to this difference the sooner you can move on to the growth of your business.
As leaders, we must take on the model of a coach – not boss. That person who is not their friend but who must earn the respect of the talent while still moving the organization in the direction of the purpose, vision etc. This is why, it is critically important to have a solid and fully engaged purpose and vision for the organization. This is the road map by which you can coach talent to become the absolute best they can be.
Think of it as if you were the coach of a college sports team. The talent you recruit will be with you for only a short 4-5 years. During that time, you will need to help them fully appreciate the purpose of your vision and hopefully get their buy in to be completely part of its success. Thus, by having a coaching mindset you are prioritizing who you need on the team at any given time to complement and make the team whole. You are consistently recruiting new talent while coaching and developing the talent presently on the team. By adopting a coaching mindset, you move away from the adversarial world of boss vs subordinate and into a relationship of coach engaging talent.
This week as you look at your roster of talent in your company, decide to move to a coaching mindset. Build your organization from the player selection up by attracting and growing the best talent you can find and coach.
Interested in developing a coaching mindset? Give JKL Associates a call at FL (407) 984-7246 or MI (313) 527-7945