The workforce will soon house up to five generations of employees – Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha – many with differing views on what inspires them. When we hire, it is important not just to meet the requirements of the role but to measure carefully the contribution the new hire brings to the team and organisation. Hiring new people allows us the opportunity to future-proof the role, mix up the dynamic of the team, and change the goalposts to enable true leaders to emerge.
Hire leaders
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said, “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” People who engage and motivate a team around a central goal and purpose ensures all the dots are joined across generations, enabling buy-in and commitment to the inspiring journey ahead.
Hire the curious
“We cannot solve a problem by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created it,” are the wise words of Albert Einstein. It is therefore vital that we don’t continually hire the same type of people for our teams. People that have the same skills, work and life experiences cannot truly create the nature of the curious culture. Sameness is the enemy of innovation and creativity. Hire people who will spark ideas from each other and who’s perspectives will engage new thoughts and adventures.
Hire those that fell, and then got up
J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter said, “Failure is so important, we speak about success all the time, but it is the ability to resist or use failure that often leads to greater success.” Those that have experienced failure themselves and have learned and grown from it, have a greater sense of self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience. They bring a respect for trying, resisting and growing that builds a culture of trust. In this environment, all will be inspired to test, innovate and learn--the vital ingredients that turn endeavours into success.
Hire for growth According to Paulo Coelho in his book The Alchemist, “when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” To inspire others, it is important to know them, and to understand their preferences, challenges, perspectives and to spend time to develop their talents in a real and meaningful way. It is the ability to see beyond the obvious in people, engage creatively and provide well thought out insights that will ensure the team grows. People operating as the best version of themselves ensures maximum positive contributions to the organisation.
Bringing together people with the right skills, values and behaviours is the beginning. The real differentiator is the ability to inspire others through building trust and delivering the experience to people that stimulates growth, resilience, learning, curiosity and empowerment. This ultimately allows the organisation to capitalise on its full potential and build a sustainable advantage for the future.
Comments