Organizations need to grow in order to stay healthy, and in order to grow they need fresh blood. Your ability to recruit and retain the right people is paramount. These tips should help you do the job more effectively:
• Identify the ideal recruit. Don’t obsess about skills or experience. Though those are important, attitude is essential. You can teach software skills, for example, but not the ability to be tolerant or flexible as the business situation demands.
• Take an active role in finding candidates. You can’t afford to wait and hope for good people to come to you. Seek them out on your own, using social networking sites on the Internet, trade associations, colleges and universities, and other sources of talent.
• Retain only the best. Hiring is only the first step. Review employees carefully before promoting them and investing heavily in their development. Don’t be afraid to weed out those who aren’t headed in the right direction. Maybe you can find another role for them, or you may be forced to cut them loose, but you won’t do any favors by stubbornly refusing to admit your mistakes.
• Keep people moving. Good people grow bored and stagnant doing the same thing day after day, year after year. Try changing their jobs, adding new responsibilities, or even shifting them to a new location so they’ll continue to learn and grow productively.
• Build your organization. Put your best people into positions that support the organization’s future. Look for strong leaders, and develop leadership strength in people with the right aptitude. In the long run, your organization will need a fresh infusion of leadership to thrive.
—Adapted from the Financial Times Web site