Managers! You want the best possible people working for you, right? It makes sense that when recruiting you’re looking for the crème de la crème – or does it? In fact, it sometimes happens that managers are afraid of bringing in someone who could, eventually, challenge their authority. They worry that someone ambitious and talented will upset the apple cart, and want to defend the position of authority they’ve worked their way into.
Unfortunately for these managers, this is far from the best way to do things – after all, hiring decisions should always consider what’s best for the business as a whole, not what’s going to make the manager most comfortable. Leaders should never assume they’re the best at everything they do – everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The key to making a success of business endeavours is recognising where those weaknesses lie and bringing in someone who can solve the problem.
A good manager will always look to take on people who can perform in areas where others don’t have the necessary expertise to get the job done. Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t aim to improve on their weaknesses – of course you should. But nobody, no matter how good they are, can be good at everything.
Let’s take an example. As the digital sphere continues to expand at a rate of knots, the older generation – who have not grown up with this type of technology and may not be as au fait with it as someone who has – may not feel comfortable taking an authoritative stance on the subject. Doesn’t it make sense to hire someone who does, rather than run the risk of getting it wrong?
For example, we are operating in a fast moving environment where new forms of communication such as social media are going to have a bigger role in the world of business.
Younger people have grown up with the technology and almost take it completely for granted. It makes sense to take on someone who understands and feels comfortable with social media, rather than to have the wrong policies and systems in place.
As well as naturally driving your business to greater success, hiring those who are better than you in their sphere has another major benefit: improving your own skill set. Why not learn from those people who have the skills you lack? Improving your own expertise is something you should always be looking to do – don’t be afraid to ask your staff for help and advice if you need it.
You may think that by not hiring the best you’re protecting your own position – in fact, you’re only weakening it in the long term. Your organisation as a whole will suffer, too. Get the best and you’ll be the best.
