Strategies in leadership hiring in 2024
Hiring for leadership positions is very different from regular hiring. In leadership hiring, we need to look for candidates with people skills, strategic thinking, futuristic thinking, an ability to understand and manage the operations and the ability to lead. Leaders have the ability to help an organization grow and flourish. Any organization is as good as the quality of its leadership team. That is why leadership hiring is critical and needs specific focus.
It takes a lot of effort to do effective leadership hiring, but the results can be phenomenal. Leaders can give the organization the boost that it requires to grow to the next level. So how do you attract and recruit magnetic leaders in your organization? Let us explore a few thoughts on the same.
Leadership skills to look for
Ability to think of the big picture
The entire company and workforce is guided by the top management and leadership in the organization. Therefore, a leader must have a good understanding of the operations of the company, and how the work of one department impacts the work of an another and so on. Apart from the ability to look internally and lead people, a leader will also be required to envision the future of the company. They are required to build industry relations and understand the market that they operate in.
Lead effectively
A leader must direct the teams towards the goals of the company and help them perform to their best abilities. A leader should be able to communicate effectively to teams on the purpose of the company and the values. Since teams look up at top management, leaders must talk on inclusivity, ethics, work-ethic and teamwork.
Decision-making ability
Leaders have a lot of pressure on them since the decisions that they make have big impacts on everyone and sometimes have long-lasting consequences. A balanced mindset and a calm demeanour will be important to a leader so that they can make accurate decisions. Instead of impulsive decisions, a leader must source all possible information and data and ensure that they can make decisions that lead to accurate results. A leader must have the discretion as to when to pause and when to surge ahead with decisions.
Strategic thinking ability
All actions have ripple effects and one thing can lead to another. A leader at the top must have all possible information at their fingertips. They must have their ears close to the ground and be able to think ahead and visualize what their decisions and actions will result in. A leader will be required to make informed decisions based on changing conditions. Leaders must be able to gauge a situation and make plans to address issues and therefore strategic thinking is a crucial skill to look for.
Creativity and initiative
Leaders are required to achieve goals in an organization and implement decisions. They are required to think of innovative strategies for communication, but also look for creative ways in which actions can be initiated to achieve the required results. They must be able to get work done and focus on the operations and push for outcomes. Talking to people and discussing ideas can bring out a lot of creative and innovative ideas that can bring in good results.
Resilience and flexibility
Leadership positions come with a lot of stress and pressure. Sometimes, decisions need to be taken quickly and sometimes resources will need to be stretched. A leader must be strong, agile and resilient and handle the pressure and be flexible. Sometimes, compromises will have to be made to achieve certain outcomes and a leader must evaluate things based on the options in front of them.
Problem-solving capability
Managing risk and problem-solving are part of the job for every leader. Problems can come from a variety of sources, both internal and external. A leader must evaluate the options to address the problem and work towards the best outcome for the organization. A crisis can also hit a company and here the approach and mitigation that a leader suggests will affect the outcome and impact on the organization.
Strategies for leadership hiring
If you are looking to be a magnet for attracting top talent for leadership positions, there are a few things that you need to focus on.
Showcase your organization
Leaders are in high demand and many of these leaders who can inspire people are selective about where they will work. To attract the best talent, you will have to showcase a strong employer brand. There are various ways of doing this however, a starting point is always the website of your company. Ensure that it is always updated. Put out important information like your vision, mission, and values on the website. Have a page about your company’s work culture and how employees are valued in your company. You could also have photos and videos of employees talking about the company and why they value working there.
Look within
It is important to have a strategy to groom leaders within the organization. Look within and identify potential leaders who can be groomed to take up leadership positions. Invest in developing them through training, mentorship, and executive coaching. Upgrading people from within to leadership positions is a an excellent idea since they will be very familiar with the work culture of the organization. It also gives people a very good career path to grow and develop themselves within the organization.
Review your compensation and benefits
Although people do not work only for money, it is important to have an attractive compensation package in order to attract good talent to leadership positions. Your benefits package must be competitive. You could look at what your competitors are offering or even at market trends. There are many salary surveys that can give you an idea of what good candidates are looking for. You need to compensate for skills, experience and expertise.
Conclusion
It is always a fight to hire creative and innovative leaders in a competitive market. There are various factors that impact their decision to join an organization. You will need to understand what motivates the candidate and whether they will align with your company’s vision, mission, and values. Since a leadership team is crucial to help drive the company towards its goals, identifying the right leader becomes even more important.
