I’ve heard a lot of “we just can’t find good people” over the last few years, and in some respects that’s true. Wisconsin remains at a historically low unemployment rate – 2.4% as of June 2023.
And yet, some companies seem to have no trouble hiring great team members, and every week there’s yet another well-respected professional posting about how excited they are to be starting a new adventure with a new company.
So how to you find them?
Here’s a 4-point, proven framework to find and hire great team members fast. We’ve used this in over 80 countries over the last 30 years, and still use it today because it works! Here’s the Cliff’s Notes version:
- It All Starts With Your Mindset. Have you ever heard phrases like “you get what you focus on,” or “where focus goes, energy flows?” There’s a lot of truth in these. If you’re convinced that great people are hard to find, then guess what – your subconscious will work hard to prove you right – they will be hard to find. Shift your thinking to being able to describe your ideal team member and where to find him or her and your brain will begin to find ways to answer that question instead. Sounds like wooey wooey, but there’s actually brain science behind it. Give it a shot – make sure your brain is focusing on what you actually want, not what you don’t.
- Get Clear on Your UHP. Your Unique Hiring Proposition is a lot like your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Where your USP answers the question “why should I buy from you and not someone else,” your UHP answers that from a team member’s perspective – “why should I work for you and not one of the 100 other companies that do what you do?” Give this some real thought. While pay packages have to be “in market,” that’s not the reason that an ideal team member will jump from their current ship to yours. Is your culture unique and exciting? Do you make cool products or provide really interesting work? Does what your company does, change the world for the better in some way? Why would they work for you and not someone else who does the same thing? That’s the question for you and your team to answer.
- Your Culture Is what it Is. Maybe you just came up with a UHP that is getting people’s attention – that’s awesome! Now… does your culture live up to that reputation? How would your team answer that question? People see through empty UHPs and culture statements pretty quickly. Make sure your UHP and your culture are an honest reflection of what working on your team is really like. If you’re in an industry like medical, where sickness and end of life are part of everyday life, be upfront about that – yours is an incredibly rewarding vocation but there are tough days. Here’s how you support team members through the down times. If you’re in a startup and there are going to be lots of late nights and ramen noodles – don’t sugarcoat it. There are plenty of people who thrive on the “grind.” Tell them they can have as much pizza as they want on the late nights.
- Get a Better Hiring Process. Hiring is easy to get lazy about because it’s easy to outsource. But what if you could attract great people who actually have to jump a few hurdles in order to be considered for your team? The idea of putting hurdles in front of candidates scares a lot of people, because you’re just happy that someone applied in the first place – you don’t want to make this hard for them, they might go away! Here’s your reality; if a candidate isn’t willing to do something outside of their comfort zone during your interview process, how willing do you think they’ll be to do something outside of their comfort zone after they’re on your very expensive payroll? Get your head in the right place. Make sure your culture is up to snuff. You have built a great company and you have the right to deserve great people. Don’t let sub-standard people – in attitude, fit to your culture, leadership ability or skill – into your organization. Ever. Be confident in knowing that you have a team that people aspire to be a part of.
About ActionCOACH: Susan Thomson and Mike McKay own ActionCOACH Business & Executive Coaching of Wisconsin. Imagine a team that can take you from the chaos and stress of running your business to making more money, growing your team, and gaining freedom! MakeMoreWorkLess.ActionCOACH.com
608-441-374, SusanThomson@ActionCOACH.com