While it can be incredibly exciting to create a dream recruiting team, it can also be daunting. You’re responsible for a candidate’s first impression of your organization and ensuring it’s a good one. Additionally, your team should be taking full ownership of making the candidate experience as positive as humanly possible. For some, that’s a lot to handle.
Unless your team is operating at its highest potential, hiring the best candidates can be extremely challenging. To build an “A” recruiting team, take a step back and evaluate your team beyond just yearly plans or hiring metrics. Think more about the qualities people possess that will help you accomplish great things.
#1: Be constantly communicating.
Every great team is built on honest, transparent communication. Giving and receiving feedback and having truthful conversations can help deepen team relationships and built trust. Remain open to suggestions and concerns by asking questions, offering help, and doing everything you can to avoid communication blunders.
One way to do this is to keep your messaging simple. In order to be effective, make it easy for team members to understand what their goals are, what’s expected of them and what the plan is. Good communication helps get the job done well, one time and on budget.
According to Bersin by Deloitte’s annual Talent Acquisition Factbook, the average hire in the U.S. now takes 52 days and costs $4,000. Don’t let your communication be the reason for loss of budget of resources. You’ll find that once your team understands each other’s perspective and vision, your hiring process will become that much easier.
#2: Understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses allow team members to support each other every day. A team operates to its fullest potential when each individual’s strengths and weaknesses are understood and respected. Even the best team members have strengths and weaknesses, but it is when you assign work based on these attributes, that magic happens.
Take the time to help your people find, grow and use their strengths. In understanding the value that each team member brings to the table, this will improve morale and personal accountability.
#3: Know people’s motivations.
If you know what motivates your team, then you will know how to properly inspire and reward them.
Listening is key. Sometimes simply listening can help you identify ways to provide what is needed. Whether that is support on a long-term project or a smile during a difficult week, learn to have fun with your team. Encourage a collaborative environment where different perspectives are shared and appreciated.
Additionally, “A” teams are most successful when individuals have a sense of ownership of their work and are supported by leadership. Implement weekly status updates, develop common goals, and encourage outside-the-box problem solving. Understanding broader career aspirations, and supporting personal growth, will drive your team forward.
#4: Understand the non-work personality of your team.
Knowing someone beyond 9-5 working hours allows you to form much deeper bonds. This strengthens your relationship so that when a work obstacle does arise, you will have a more empathetic approach and will better understand where different team members are coming from.
Building strong relationships between your coworkers is imperative for a collaborative and successful work environment. While we spend many hours at work, remember that your team has a life outside the office. It can be challenging to balance your work self, and home self, and you shouldn’t have to. Being supportive of one another in the workplace and encouraging employees to come to work every day as their true selves will make a significant impact on the quality of work.
#5: Recognize each other.
Exceptional recruiters are not glory hogs. They understand that accomplishments are a team effort and as such, they are generous with their praise, whether they are a manager offering it to subordinates or an employee offering it to a co-worker.
To build a stellar team, celebrate wins as a team. So much time is spent each day going through the motions, and we often forgo celebrating achievements—both big and small. As your company grows and molds to new employees, it is imperative to remain grounded in your mission. Recognizing your team can boost morale significantly, and there are easy (and cost effective ways to do). It can be as simple as sending a coworker an email after they helped you get to the finish line of a time sensitive project, or stopping by their desk for a quick thank you.
If you want to take it one step further, go all out! Schedule a day for an offsite event for a team appreciation lunch. Don’t let the fact that you’ll be out of the office overwhelm you. Your team will come back the next day refreshed and ready to hit the ground running. Days off like these are vital every once in awhile to get your team aligned again and motivated to hit their goals.
These five strategies will allow your team to grow together and influence the company in huge ways. Encouraging honest feedback, supporting one another, and collaborating through challenging responsibilities creates a solid foundation for a stellar team.
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