Hi Reader,

There is no such thing as a straightforward leadership search. Every assignment I work on has nuances, and the consequences of making the wrong decision can be very costly.

More than half of the executives I speak to about leadership roles in consumer and retail aren’t in active job search mode.

Processes can be lengthy, and all parties must be patient.

Companies also need to recognize that both sides are buying. If a senior candidate is not unhappy where they are, they’re not going to leap at a new opportunity. To start with, it might be exploratory, an informal coffee, perhaps.

It usually takes several meetings to get serious buy-in from a candidate who is not actively looking for a new job.

Companies often overlook this. It’s very easy to get excited about the prospect of hiring someone and rush things along too quickly.

Whilst your executive search firm or talent acquisition function may have done a great job presenting the opportunity, the only way they will engage in the process and potentially accept the job is if they buy your people and your company vision.

A company’s leadership team must be aligned on this, and the candidate must see and hear consistent messaging. Clear and succinct headlines around the employer value proposition—covering strategy and vision, purpose, and values—are critical to buy-in. While we associate purpose and values as motivators for younger generations, they are becoming increasingly important for senior executives.

Vision statements can get the wheels in motion, but what engages people is a powerful storyline and how someone’s job fits into it.

Here are some questions to contemplate when shaping your company’s story:

◾️ How do you describe your culture, and what evidence can you provide of the business walking the talk?

◾️ How would someone observe your company values in action?

◾️How are executives empowered to create an impact and feel like they’re making a genuine difference to the business?

◾️How much are the founder and CEO emotionally invested?

Remembering hiring is a two-way street will significantly increase your chances of making the best leadership hires.

For more help with leadership hiring within consumer and retail, contact me.

To your success,

Guy Day

For more advice and support with building your value-led hiring strategy within consumer and retail, contact me at BartonRock Executive Search or Kate Thomas at NewlandRock for advice on leadership effectiveness coaching.

BartonRock's recent articles & posts

7 Critical Experiences For Leadership Roles With an intensely competitive consumer and retail landscape, leadership hiring within the sector has remained in sharp focus for companies. ​ Read More

A CEO is only as good as the people they surround themselves with Surrounding yourself with a diverse group of leaders that think differently to you is intrinsic to a CEO’s success. ​ Read More

About BartonRock:

Guy Day is the Founder of BartonRock, the executive search partner for high-growth companies in consumer and retail.
​
For more information visit: www.bartonrock.com or contact guy@bartonrock.com​

Looking for support in Leadership Effectiveness?

Speak to our sister company NewlandRock led by Kate Thomas. Focused on Assessment | Executive Coaching | Wellbeing Solutions – Internationally