Hiring employees with a ‘business strategist’ mind set can make a huge difference for a company’s growth. How do you find people who bring that ‘big picture’ approach? How do you know when you are talking with a potential hire who can help your business define itself more clearly in the marketplace, with your customers, with potential new customers, even with competitors? Stay tuned as we look at the business strategist skill-set, and how hiring with that focus can quietly affect the growth of your company or your office.
What does it mean to have a business-strategist skill set?
Do They Think Ahead?
Met a candidate recently who bought himself season tickets to a local pro sports team. When the team made it into the playoffs, far into the playoffs, he bought tickets to those big post-season games, then found buyers for those tickets, netting a sizable return for his investment. Does he have a business strategist mind-set? He knows how to make money, and he thinks ahead.
Do They Follow Your Industry’s News:
You’ve succeeded in part because you know what’s going in your company’s world, right? What are your competitors doing? What’s going on the market that could impact what you charge for your products or services? Do they Follow Your Industry’s News? A recent example, should we budget for increased aluminum prices? Well no, because the ingredients we use are in huge quantities, and the biggest user, the Chinese, their economy is flat right now, so knowing these facts, just being aware, impacts the ability to skillfully budget.
Do They Have a Passion for How They Add Value?
A third piece to a candidate’s story, are they intrigued, do they have a Passion for How They Add Value to your business? Candidates who demonstrate financial literacy about a business, understand what you seek to provide to your customers, will help you more clearly define who you are in the markets where you serve. Employees eager to learn more, about how their function helps grow their area, about knows how your business makes money, how you are positioning the business, will challenge you to think bigger. Younger employees with a willingness to Ask Why a lot, when managed well, can add huge value in this business strategy area.
Have They Ever Owned a Business?
A bonus question: have they ever owned a business, a lawn service, a DJ business, maybe their family had a small business they helped run. These can be street-smart instinctive business strategists. When you find one, mentor them, challenge them, keep them engaged; they will grow your business with you. We talk with them every day. Call us.
A third piece to a candidate’s story, are they intrigued, do they have a Passion for How They Add Value to your business? Candidates who demonstrate financial literacy about a business, understand what you seek to provide to your customers, will help you more clearly define who you are in the markets where you serve. Employees eager to learn more, about how their function helps grow their area, about knows how your business makes money, how you are positioning the business, will challenge you to think bigger. Younger employees with a willingness to Ask Why a lot, when managed well, can add huge value in this business strategy area.
Dan Toussant, your Executive Recruiter, shares planning tips for hiring sales professionals. He suggests hiring managers consider three things: Expectations, Testing, and the Process and Timeline. Tune in for the details.
Visit Dan’s website, Dan Toussant & Associates, for more recruiting information.
