I recently responded to the LinkedIn question “How can a company attract and maintain top talent?” in this way:
“Although you’ll get many responses about technique and strategy, in my experience that’s just the beginning of the answer. There’s a significant emotional aspect to the question. In the words of the Buddha, “What comes to you comes from you.” So that’s what I’ll focus on in this answer; the emotional blockages that stop things from coming to you. Ask yourself these questions:
- Are you really willing to do what it takes to attract and keep great talent?
- Are you willing to hire somebody better than you? Or even better than their manager?
- Does driving towards excellence scare you? Are you prepared to hire the top 10%?
- Would you fit in this category?
- Is there such a thing as an “overqualified” applicant?
- Are you open to hiring and managing different types of people? Can you hire without baggage?
- Do you make a conscious effort to show people you care – or is this just your self-talk?
- Do you allow employees to make a difference? To stretch? To find the good in their work?
- Do you let go of poor performers, thus making room for more good ones?
- Does leadership give a hoot about people, or simply growing their bottom-line?
- Is this a fun place to work or is the attitude that fun and work don’t mix?
Most importantly, think about your own experience. Why would you work somewhere or stay there? “
