Hope is not a strategy. At face value, that seems obvious; of course you wouldn’t incorporate “hope” into any official strategic plan. But realistically, everyone from the highest-level CEO to the hustling entrepreneur has occasionally thought, “I hope that what I’m doing works out the way I want it to.” It’s a natural human reaction — but you can’t count on hope for success, especially when it comes to recruiting the talent that your organization needs.
Whether dealing with long-term goals or day-to-day tasks, relying on hope to get the results you want is rarely a sustainable solution. In business contexts, “hope” is often a sneaky synonym for “luck” — and a winning lottery ticket isn’t likely to bring your organization the candidates you’ve been waiting for.
Fortunately, you don’t need hope or luck to recruit at the highest level. With the right strategy in place, you can take chance out of your approach altogether. Let’s take a look at five ways that you can stop using hope as a game plan.
1. Give yourself thinking time.
The busier your schedule gets, the more important it becomes for you to take time away from the chaos to reflect. Although it may seem paradoxical to stop working when you have the most work to do, it’s important to check in with yourself to ensure you’re making positive, informed decisions.
Try using a journal for this type of reflection. Tuning out the texts and emails for a moment may actually improve your ability to process them later, and you can return to work with more energy and focus.
2. Self-evaluate.
We’ve all had colleagues who were less competent or committed than us and have experienced frustration when their sloppy mistakes became messes we had to clean up. But focusing on the perceived shortcomings of others can often allow us to shirk the blame.
Before passing the blame next time someone drops the ball, consider how you can alter your own actions in the future to prevent or minimize damage. Maybe you could communicate more clearly. Maybe you could vet freelancers or new candidates more thoroughly in the future. Consider what you can control instead of pointing toward what you can’t.
3. Stop making excuses.
A friend of mine has a great mantra: “Don’t look out the window — look in the mirror.” When something goes wrong, it’s unhelpful to spend time looking for external factors that caused the problem. You’ll never be able to change unexpected circumstances; all you can do is be prepared for them.
When something goes awry, evaluate every factor that caused your plan to derail — external and internal — and make a note of new learnings. See failure as an opportunity, not an excuse.
4. Give 100%.
It’s important to continually assess how much effort you’re dedicating to creating and sustaining success — and how much you’re leaving to chance. One way to do this is to compare yourself to peers and competitors. Consider who’s getting better results and what they might be doing that you’re not. Are they spending more time on certain activities? Are they noticeably more effective in one particular area? It can also be helpful to seek input from an accountability partner who can offer an unbiased assessment of your skills and effort.
If you’re truly giving your full effort and still not experiencing the results you want, it’s possible that your plate is simply too full. Consider delegating nonessential tasks or making other tweaks in your recruitment strategy.
5. Commit.
The old saying “fish or cut bait” doesn’t just apply to big water — it also applies to your professional journey. It’s imperative that you commit to your daily tasks, your big picture goals and your organization’s larger mission. If you don’t believe in the work you’re doing, you’ll never be entirely committed to it. Consider which parts of your organization’s values motivate you to do the work. If there aren’t any, it may be time to consider moving on.
These five strategies require near-constant thought and reflection; if your heart isn’t in it, you’ll have a very difficult time removing “hope” from your game plan. But if you find purpose in your work and remain motivated to succeed in your industry, each of these exercises can come naturally to you — and pay off in the long run.
