Looking Back on 2023
2024 is right around the corner, and 2023 has been a fun ride. Team Builder has been blessed to work with talented business leaders across the country as they grow. As we reflect back and look ahead, I wanted to share a few of our key “takeaways” from this year:
Be ready to turn on a dime. This is true of every year in the 2020 decade so far, but it’s worth highlighting. We’ve seen swings in the labor market that have been precariously fast, and we’ve had to adjust our sails accordingly. Whatever your industry, keep your teams nimble, embrace change with enthusiasm, and look at the opportunities and potential benefits that come from change–NOT just the risks! Some teammates will embrace change with enthusiasm, others will need encouragement to find the silver lining of abandoning something that has worked well in the past but has suddenly been found ineffective.
A personal touch still has value. In a world where so much communication is by email and text, a phone call or in-person communication can be incredibly powerful. Whether it’s checking in on an employee who seems unusually stressed or calling a candidate with an update instead of just sending an email, those real world connections that open conversations build relationships in a way that can never happen via written text.
Build Partnerships. Outside vendors can be incredible resources when you go past transactional interactions and start treating them as strategic partners. In our world, our best clients are our best communicators. They are the ones that tell us what they like/dislike about candidates we send. A few minutes on the phone discussing candidates can save hours of time as the relationship builds. The recruiter grows in knowledge of the company and the specific requirements of the role. The employer can also take advantage of the insights and experience of the recruiter.
Get moving. Let movement perfect the plan. I’m not advocating for moving forward with no plan, but in a world that is moving faster than ever before, waiting until every detail is thought through and every scenario is planned for will leave you in the dust of anyone who is willing to just “get after it!” We see this in hiring all the time. Employers who hold out to find the perfect candidate for their hard-to-fill role lose out on the “close-fit” candidates. The time spent on continuing the search may have been better invested in onboarding and training a new teammate.
A caring team is a resilient team. Cultivating a work culture where there is a genuine concern for the people on the team will provide a strength that will see you through all sorts of storms. I recently spoke with a small business owner who has a key employee leaving for personal reasons. Because of how this employee was cared for and the comradery she’s experienced, she provided a 4-week notice to help with the transition. Another PT employee committed to offering additional support until a replacement is found. This is the power of teamwork playing out.
If you haven’t already done so, take a few moments to reflect. What are some themes you observed or lessons learned from 2023? If you are willing to share them, I’d love to hear from you!