Great Ideas From John Mitchell’s New Book

by: Dan Beaulieu In Hiring & Training, Leadership, Management

I have to say I find it ironic that most of the calls I am on with my clients these days are focused on the issues they are having with their work forces. I was on one last week where the General Manager was talking about hiring being the bane of his existence. In the past week he had six new people come in on Monday and by Friday there were only two left. The rest of the conversation was about what to do about it. When right here in our own industry the CEO of IPC has written a book addressing this exact problem and what to do about it. It’s that simple isn’t it? Sometimes what we are looking for is right there in our own backyard waiting to be found, all we have to do is look for it.

I would recommend that everyone read Dr. John Mitchell’s new book “Fire Your Hiring Habits.”

I have just finished reading this book and it’s a good one. And it’s full of great strategies for hiring and keeping people.

In fact I thought you, my dear readers, would benefit from some of the best ideas and strategies that I gleaned from the book “Fire your Hiring Habits: Building An Environment That Attracts Top Talent in Today’s WorkForce.”

Just to be clear, these are the book’s major ideas condensed in my own words for the sake of space.

  • Define Clear Job Requirements: Clearly outline the skills, qualifications, and expectations for the role.
  • Use Behavioral Interviewing: Ask situational questions to assess how candidates have handled specific scenarios in the past.
  • Evaluate Culture Fit: Consider how well candidates align with your company’s values and culture.
  • Utilize Multiple Sourcing Channels: Don’t rely on just one method to find candidates; explore job boards, social media, and referrals.
  • Build a Strong Employer Brand: Present your company as an attractive place to work through branding efforts and positive employee experiences.
  • Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Ensure your compensation package is competitive within your industry to attract top talent.
  • Provide Opportunities for Growth: Show candidates potential career paths and opportunities for advancement within your organization.
  • Streamline the Hiring Process: Keep the hiring process efficient and respectful of candidates’ time to avoid losing top talent to lengthy processes.
  • Offer Flexibility: Consider offering flexible work arrangements to attract a wider pool of candidates and accommodate diverse needs.
  • Provide Regular Feedback and Recognition: Employees thrive on feedback and recognition; provide them with regular constructive feedback and acknowledge their contributions.
  • Encourage Collaboration and Teamwork: Foster a collaborative work environment where employees feel valued and supported by their peers.
  • Invest in Training and Development: Provide opportunities for continuous learning and skill development to help employees grow professionally.
  • Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage a healthy balance between work and personal life to prevent burnout and promote overall well-being.
  • Communicate Openly and Transparently: Foster a culture of open communication where employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns.
  • Offer Employee Wellness Programs: Implement wellness initiatives to support employees’ physical and mental health.
  • Provide Recognition and Rewards: Recognize employees’ achievements and contributions through rewards, incentives, or other forms of acknowledgment.
  • Create a Positive Work Environment: Foster a positive workplace culture where employees feel respected, supported, and motivated to do their best work.
  • Encourage Innovation and Creativity: Create an environment that values and encourages innovation, experimentation, and creative thinking.
  • Promote Diversity and Inclusion: Foster a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees from different backgrounds feel welcome and valued.
  • Conduct Regular Performance Reviews: Provide regular performance evaluations to give employees feedback on their progress and areas for improvement.
  • Encourage Employee Engagement: Actively involve employees in decision-making processes and encourage them to contribute their ideas and opinions.
  • Address Conflict and Issues Promptly: Deal with conflicts and issues in a timely and constructive manner to prevent them from escalating.
  • Lead by Example: Demonstrate the behaviors and values you want to see in your employees through your own actions and decisions.
  • Provide Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate job expectations and goals to employees to help them understand what is required of them.
  • Celebrate Successes: Recognize and celebrate both individual and team successes to boost morale and motivation.

Finding good people is hard. Keeping them is even harder. The thing is that for years the companies in our industry have been winging it. We have been doing the hiring the same way we have always done it. And we all know that doing the same things and expecting different results is the true definition of insanity. So now it’s time to stop the insanity and find new ways to hire and retain good people.

It’s only common sense.