Talent matters

Although the 2022 Major League baseball season is now but a memory, a new level of excitement floods to the surface as ball clubs look to grab a superstar free agent or make a grand trade that will change the fortunes of their team and city, during this off-season. If your team captures a top player, the winter temperatures rise just a bit. The right player, the talent, can change the fortune of a team for years to come. Talent sells tickets, attracts eyeballs, and raises the blood pressure. Although no games are scheduled, there is enthusiasm for the game, nonetheless. Putting better players on the field makes a difference.

Although you may not be a baseball fan, it is still easy to understand: talent matters. Better players bring more wins, more fans and more of everything a team wants to see from acquiring winning players. As with baseball, talent also matters in your business. It is important not only to build and maintain a strong daily lineup, but also to be on the lookout for people who can step in and make a difference in your service execution. In the past, I have written that some managers do not spend enough time recruiting. Because leaders are constantly busy, the hiring thing tends to go to the back burner simply because there is not always an immediate fire to put down. Still, it can be an essential step to add recruiting to your monthly calendar. Building a file of people a just a few keystrokes away can make business and life so much better. Here are three ideas in building a strong lineup:

Assess your current talent: Decide who the most valuable people are and what you can do to keep each one on the team. This is not a one-size-fits-all program. It is the time to get to know what is important to each key team member. Every life has individual, unique challenges to work through. Knowing people beyond their skill set helps you build a framework for loyalty and mutual success. As with a winning baseball team however, you may not be able to keep every all-star. Some people will simply want a change.

Birds of a feather: In my former life as a manager, I would consistently approach my best people asking about their friends and family members. Who might be looking to leave a job? If not full time, who may be searching for part time work? This idea worked well. You might even create a rewards program when a new recruit works out. Once they achieve 90 days on the job, pay a bonus to the person who made the connection. Not every recruit will work, but it can be a valuable way to attract talent. Good people know other good people. Once in a while a strong part-timer may even turn into a great full time player.

The search for talent: For a key manager role, or important department lead, you might want to go and search far afield for talent. Just as with baseball, top talent requires courting and incentives to jump. In my career, the better people rarely came knocking. I had to go out to find people who were willing to have a conversation. There are great people working all about. They may not be inside the industry. Hiring is, I believe, about finding great people, wherever they are. You can help develop the skills required for the specific role. Acquiring solid people is an important skill for any leader looking to succeed for years to come.

When it is time to make changes, add people, or fill important roles, rethink your model. Look to do things in new ways. As a leader you know business leaders, suppliers, and people who thrive in the community. Widen your conversation and your search. Hire the smile, the integrity and people who want to play well with others. Take a different path. Create a better plan for 2023 and beyond.

Jack Dillon writes the In My Opinion posts. He is an author, speaker and coach. Jack knows service, operations, communications and merchandising. He can help your business grow. He can also help your people. His 2^nd book, The Grand Tug of War: buying and selling in the real world will be published in January. Contact Jack at 407-973-6136 or at jackd@careerdividends.com. Jack lives in Orlando and on Zoom.