Take a Chance

Are you a hiring manager scrambling for good talent in these turbulent times?  Are you on the other end of the equation, looking for a great opportunity, frustrated that the plum assignments keep going to other candidates?  At the risk of getting ABBA stuck firmly in your brain for the remainder of the day, I encourage you to take a chance.

During a recent networking skills webinar I conducted, the participants and I were talking about the ways in which each of us had landed key professional positions.  One woman commented, “getting people to take a chance on me – despite my lack of specific experience – describes every job I’ve ever gotten.”  Mind you, this gal was no slouch.  An amazing academic pedigree coupled with high-powered, highly compensated roles with a variety of very well-respected organizations.

The conversation harkened back to Jim Collins’ seminal work, Good to Great, in which he urges us to “get the right people on the bus.”  Specifically, Collins says,

“Those who build great organizations make sure they have the right people on the bus and the right people in the key seats before they figure out where to drive the bus. They always think first about who and then about what. When facing chaos and uncertainty, and you cannot possibly predict what’s coming around the corner, your best ‘strategy’ is to have a busload of people who can adapt to and perform brilliantly no matter what comes next. Great vision without great people is irrelevant.”

So, if you are that hiring manager, look for motivated, can-do candidates who are willing and eager to learn.  The right associates possess a moral code that drives them toward excellence, engagement, and achievement.  They will fight for the team and do everything in their power to attain success for the greater good.

On the flip side, if you are a job seeker, demonstrate through your words, actions and examples how you are motivated and ready to join the crew as a team player.  Be ready with your stories that illustrate your passion, interests and desire for ongoing professional development.

Go on, take a chance.  Happy Networking!

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