Why Hiring Great People Matters to Building Success

It seems like common sense. The idea of hiring great people. But if this statement resonates with common sense then why aren’t more leaders hiring great people? More so, why aren’t leaders learning to develop great people?

The data tells us a very different story is taking place. And it’s time to listen to this story. It’s time to make the changes and adjustments needed to hire great people for your organization. 

I’ve heard it a million times and hear it more each day. ‘We just can’t find good people!’ It seems over the past six months or so this statement has become even more profound. Leaders telling me or social media or their employees or other coaches that no-one wants to work, that they can’t find anyone to hire, or the people they do hire don’t show up within the first few weeks of beginning their new job. 

The problem with making a statement such as ‘we just can’t find good people’ is this statement gives a reflection into your perspective of hiring and recruiting. This reflection shows that you aren’t taking seriously the responsibility you carry as someone who recruits and hires. Statements such as this are statements of blame rather than responsibility. 

The reality is this- you are responsible for who you recruit and hire. You are responsible for finding great people for your organization. You may fulfill this responsibility through teaching your highest performers, leadership team, and even customers how to recruit as well. But at the end of the day, if you are leading your organization, you carry the burden of finding people. 

The burden doesn’t lie on people finding you. 

The burden doesn’t lie on a third party app or agency. 

The burden doesn’t lie on anyone else but you. 

The beautiful aspect of carrying this responsibility seriously is you can find great people. Regardless of where you live, what size or type of organization you lead, you can step out of your door today and find great people. 

It will take work to recruit them. It will take time to build relationships. It will take time to sift through everyone you meet or encounter to find people who align with your organization. It will also take time to learn how to actively recruit. It will take time to learn the art of interviewing. It will take time to define who aligns with your work, team, and culture. 

But you can begin today. 

A few weeks ago I was grabbing coffee at a local coffee shop and the barista was amazing. Watching her interact with customers, suggest baked goods that just arrived, and buzz around the shop like she was on a mission was a thing of art and beauty. I would recruit her. 

Last week I was in Home Depot and witnessed a young man give amazing customer service to an elderly couple seeking specific items. He walked around the store clearly explaining to them what they needed and why they needed those items. He was friendly, caring, and hard working. I would recruit him in a heartbeat. 

A few days ago I was in a clothing store. The gentleman helping me volunteered to do price checks on items that were wrongly priced, he suggested additional items, he asked me personal questions to engage conversation. He was an A+ salesperson in a store that doesn’t encourage sales. I would recruit him NOW. 

I’ve begun keeping a list of people I would recruit on an almost daily basis. I began this list almost a month ago and within my normal life and activity I average finding three to five people a day to recruit. 

Three to five people every single day. 

Let’s do some math-

If I find three- five people each day I can build a relationship with, witness them within their work environment, watch them engage with customers, this becomes 15-20 people a week. 

Which becomes 60-100 people a month I can recruit. 

And these aren’t just random recruits. They are people I have watched work. They are people that have helped me or I have watched help someone else. Not only does this become 60-100 people a month I recruit, but many of these people aren’t seeking another opportunity. But they know someone who is. 

By recruiting 60-100 people a month I now have 60-100 people recruiting for me. I’ll stop doing the math for now but you get the point. 

When you actively recruit within your everyday life, your odds of finding amazing people grow exponentially. You are also now controlling who you recruit and who applies for positions with your organization. Leaders often take the approach of fishing with a net. They cast wide in hopes of catching a high number of applicants then sifting through to see who MIGHT be a fit. This approach brings about noise that you don’t need when focused on hiring great people. 

The path to hiring great people is being very strategic on who you recruit, knowing why you are recruiting them, and understanding how they might fit within your team. When you have clarity on these elements, you have exchanged your wide net approach with specific strategy and reasoning. It is only through specificity and clarity that you will find people who will not only make sense for your organization, but will walk through the door better equipped for bringing success with them. 

Great recruiting begins with knowing who you need on your team, why you need them, and how they can be successful within your ecosystem. Once you have identified these needs, you can begin seeking great people in your everyday life. 

The coffee shop becomes a great place to recruit. 

The hair salon or barbershop becomes a great place to recruit. 

The grocery store becomes a great place to recruit. 

The hardware store becomes a great place to recruit. 

Places of worship, your kids baseball game, clothing stores, book stores, social media and even movie theaters become fertile ground for finding great people. 

There are millions of great people alive today! You simply must learn how, and where, to find them. 

If you’re truly ready to build success, it’s time to stop using phrases like ‘we just can’t find good people!’ and replace those statements with ‘I know exactly where to find great people and I find them everyday!’

Success is a choice. Learn a better way. Gain greater understanding. Create clarity for who you need and why. Then you will be well on your way to building success through finding great people.