In 2010, I was thinking about the next career path and where my skills would be most useful to an organization. The radio was playing in the background with one of my all time favorite performers, Michael Jackson. I heard the lyrics, “I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life. It’s gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right.” Video here. Then, my inner voice shouted out “You need to do something of the people, by the people, for the people.” The profession that would fulfill this aggressive goal was a specialist in Talent Acquisition.
The acquisition of talent within organizations has become more strategic over the past several years. Companies are realizing that warm bodies in the office are not going to keep them afloat in this new economy. Instead, those warm bodies need to be in the exact positions that they are able to be the most effective and productive within the organization. There has been allot of re-organization over the past several years and we are slowly making it down the other side of the mountain.
If you have been following my How To Recruit series over the past several weeks, we have touched on how to recruit top performers, how to recruit persevering warriors who overcome failure, and this final blog in the series is how to recruit the humble spirits.
A Taste Of Humble Pie
A little under ten years ago, my life changed completely. In the course of four weeks, everything that was near and dear was no longer within reach. You ask yourself, “Why, Monica?” The answer: I am one in five women who suffer from depression. The first experience was at the age of 17 and in those days, hospitals treated the symptoms not the cause. The next experience was at the age of 34 when a life crisis threw me into the dark abyss. This time, the cause was treated instead of the symptom.
Because of all the wonderful tools that are provided in the 21st century to individuals who are sufferers, I am able to sit here on a Friday night contributing to Jessica’s blogging4jobs website instead of fighting a dark battle all alone. Now, that I am back on my feet again the three tools that keep me actively engaged in life are:
Faith
I hold faith very close to my heart, living and breathing it daily. Everyone should keep their personal faith at the center of their life in order to be equipped with whatever life throws their way.
Weights
I spent two years training side-by-side with body builders with a much different objective in mind. The goal was to feed each muscle that would produce enough of the exact mood altering chemical to maintain high spirits. And, it works!! Now, it is a daily regimen.
Serving
I spend several hours a week serving others in various organizations. It is amazing how much assisting others can change each persons life in the inner circle of servant-hood.
Now, faith and weights+serving = happiness and is a daily walk to keep me active and engaged in life.
“It’s often difficult for those who are lucky enough to have never experienced what true depression is to imagine a life of complete hopelessness, emptiness and fear.” If you are a fellow 1 in 5, please don’t go it alone. There are so many resources for us now.
Humble Spirits
The best advice I can give to you when recruiting individuals who have been knocked to their knees eating humble pie is to look for individuals that have accomplished allot of things in a short period of time. They are life sprinters in everything because their tomorrows are uncertain. Organizations will gain individuals who are extremely passionate about their daily work contributions and serving the people within the organization. They are driven to bring everyone forward, leaving no one behind.
Conversations with humble spirits will shine the spotlight on others, allowing them to rise up personally and professionally. The overall goals of these individuals is bringing wholeness across the organization.
An Engaged Company
Please take the time to review the How To Recruit series and build scorecards that places each one of these individuals within teams across the organization. The companies that understand the power of a top performer, failed achiever, and humbled believer being among-st their teams will empower and engage individuals to accomplish new heights. And, will find themselves marching forward into the 21st century of business.
As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, it is a daily goal of mine to match the exact candidate with the exact manager and team. There are places within companies right now waiting for the “right” candidate. I say we all need to start looking for the “exact” candidate by adjusting the biases of the Man in the Mirror.
I’m Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I’m Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
