day 894: Recruiting Messages

"Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!"

I was interviewed a few times last week about the perks and comforts that Silicon Valley is once again lavishing on employees and whether or not this is necessary, and if it even works.  The answer is not simple because one size does not fit all and the challenges of supply and demand of talent drives many decisions as it relates to these extras.  But, I have always fallen back on the fact that none of the perks matter if a company doesn't have a core message that resonates with prospective employees regarding the vision of the company, the vision for employees and how the company will be able to bring to life the professional and personal hopes and dreams of each and every employee.  That is what really matters.  If a company has that right, then the other extras are icing on the cake.  Without the cake though, the icing is just expensive nutrient empty fluff that really doesn't matter.  It's our jobs to be sure that there is a there there and that our recruiting message of the company is one of substance, first.

Jesus recruited well.  He was able to bring together a group of men, from all walks of life, who followed Him and then went on to be writers, scholars, teachers, pastors, and leaders of the Christian life that we know now.  Jesus recruited with a message about what He had to offer these men but also He connected at a level that brought the message alive to them.  Telling the two fishermen, Andrew and Simon (Peter) that He would teach them to fish for people was maybe one of the greatest lines for recruiting someone ever said.  These were fishermen, so they understood what He was saying.  He couldn't have made it more personal and relevant to them.  In our own lives as we recruit others to the Kingdom are we using our own personal examples and true relationships to our most powerful way of persuading?  Jesus was in touch with what would stir and move Andrew and Peter.  If we are not paying attention to what it is that means something to others then we will miss our opportunity to have the right words at the right moment for them and will have missed the true recruiting message.

Reference: Mark 1:17 (New Living Testament)

day 185: Recruiting

I have spent most of my professional career either recruiting people into companies or ensuring that other people can recruit well. Being great at recruiting can be a competitive advantage for anyone in a company and certainly can make the difference between having a good or bad person within the organization. We don't pay enough attention to this critical skill and not enough of us keep our skills practiced and on the cutting edge. I continue to believe that the front-line recruiter is one of the most critical positions in the company as they are many times the first person that someone would meet within the company and many times the last. Either way they have a big impact on the perception of the company or organization by the outside world. They also can truly impact the culture of the company by the type of person they bring into the business. And since we all recruit in the likeness of ourselves, then we should make sure that the best people are the recruiters; the ones with the strongest set of values and principles to ensure that only the best kind of people are being screened in to join the company. I also believe that people work for people, not companies and that the first-line recruiter can truly influence people to join a company many times just by who they are. How many times have I heard something like, "If the company is made up of people like your recruiters, then I think I will like this place." So, it is good to be thinking about what kind of recruiter you are and also who is recruiting for your Company. I love the verse in Luke how Jesus recruited Matthew to be one of his disciples. Luke 5:27-28; "Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector name Levi sitting at his tax-collection booth. 'Come, be my disciple! Jesus said to him. So, Levi got up, left everything and followed him." He said only, "Come, be my disciple" and Matthew left his current job, took a new job with Jesus and and followed Him. The ultimate recruiter, Jesus was. Matthew followed Jesus not because of great promises or perks or a big salary. Matthew followed and joined Jesus just because Jesus was Jesus. People will follow you, just because of who you are. They will follow and join you because you are the type of person that they admire and want to work along side. Let your values be strong and pure. Let your example be one that is one to be followed. May you be able to "recruit" with your full ability, day in and day out.

Reference: Luke 5:27-28 (New Living Testament)