DERGEL Executive Search

Helping great companies hire successful leaders

Building a Solid Team for Long-Term Success

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“A players attract A players. B players attract C players.” – Steve Jobs

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When it comes to building a strong, high performing team, the hiring process is key. Skills can always be taught; however, attitude and experience cannot be bought. Inexperienced companies tend to look at which skills a person has and discards the attitude. So, what are some of the best attributes to look for when hiring A players?

Basic knowledge of your company. Unless they have been coached, or have a long-standing relationship with your company, chances are they will not be well-versed on the organization’s history, operations, and key players. However, as the company’s website, LinkedIn, and listing type are all public, there should be a basic understanding of:

  • With whom they will be speaking and their role(s)
  • The mission of the organization
  • Size of the company/General size of their department
  • The sector the organization lies in
  • Who the target customers are (generally)

Comes ready with questions/notes. A players take their position seriously. More often than not, they will arrive with a list of questions ready and more will arise throughout the flow of the conversation. The more questions, the better – as it represents their level of interest. You’re likely to hear questions such as the following:

  • What does the onboarding process look like?
  • What does the day-to-day look like?
  • Who will I be working with and who would I be reporting to directly?
  • What are the opportunities for growth?
  • What is the salary and bonus structure?
  • Is there a relocation package?
  • Are any additional benefits offered?
  • How does the organization handle overtime?

An open mind. Brand representation is the key driver of market recognition and loyalty. Opportunities for growth lie in diversifying the target audience and employee retention the organization is interested in attracting. Unwillingness to listen to dissenting voices, deeming concerns as minuscule, and attempts to drown out voices who disagree can lead to resentment between employees, yourself and the board, regression in the organization’s progress, and more.

Growth mindset. The world of business is ever evolving. The rate of technological advancement is exponentially faster than ever seen before in history. This has allowed for the fastest speed in communication between peers to share ideas, compare data, and transfer knowledge. To make the vision a reality, top players will be able to see the full-vision and the steps needed to be taken to get there. The ability to recognize and respect that growth is not linear is a great mindset for the business world.

At the end of the day, making the dream a reality is the main goal. We all have good days and bad days. Creating a work environment that is goal oriented through healthy collaboration starts with building a team that is focused on achieving, asks impactful questions and is respectful of each other.

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

Efficiency: Strategies for Time Management, Enhanced Productivity, and Optimized Systems

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“Work smarter, not harder” rings true, and is often easier said than done, despite the many available effective tools.

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Efficiency lies chiefly in how we strategically implement and organize these powerful tools and processes. How they fit in our organization-wide and personal systems can be telling of our highest priorities.

The pursuit of enhanced productivity has become a constant endeavor, transcending traditional workplace boundaries. Whether you’re striving to excel in professional tasks, artistic pursuits, or personal undertakings, the concept of productivity holds universal significance. Let’s explore how to upgrade in this category:

Harnessing Peak Energy Moments

Leaders understand that energy levels fluctuate throughout the day. Identifying peak productivity windows and aligning demanding tasks with those times can yield impressive results. Additionally, reserve low-energy periods for less intensive activities. Whether you’re a morning person or find your focus in the afternoon, structuring your routine around these natural rhythms can greatly enhance your output.

Streamlining Objectives for Swift Progress

Setting clear objectives is of primary importance for productive endeavors. If they can be easily distilled and explained to a middle or high school student, then they are on the right track. Whether it’s handling regular activity or tackling a complex project, clarifying the goal is essential. Leaders can optimize their productivity by breaking down larger tasks into smaller, manageable components. Prioritization becomes effortless when tasks are categorized as “Must-Dos” or “Could-Dos,” allowing for efficient allocation of time and resources.

Eliminating Distractions for Uninterrupted Focus

Distractions can be productivity’s greatest adversary. Leaders can enhance their output by creating distraction-free environments during periods of high concentration. Techniques like silencing notifications, setting boundaries with others, and even practicing focused mindfulness can significantly amplify productivity.

Embracing Identity and Lifestyle Alignment

Productivity is deeply intertwined with one’s identity and desired lifestyle. Leaders can harness this connection by aligning their goals with the roles they want to embody. Whether it’s being a successful business owner, an organized homemaker, or a prolific writer, framing productivity within the context of personal identity can lead to more meaningful achievements.

Adapting Strategies to Personal Preferences

Copying others’ routines might not yield the desired outcomes. Tailoring strategies to personal preferences, tendencies, and limitations is paramount. The most effective productivity-enhancing techniques are those that resonate with an individual’s unique style and capabilities. It can be helpful for individuals to dedicate time to identify and uncover the nature in which they operate. It can be through spoken word, mind maps, or other methods which help bring personal clarity.

Nurturing the Mind and Body for Sustainable Performance

Sustained productivity thrives when leaders invest in self-care. Cultivating a balanced approach that includes play, rest, and nourishment is essential. Taking time to recharge through activities like reading, engaging with art, or spending time in nature can replenish energy levels and lead to sustained high performance.

Building Momentum through Consistency

Consistency is the cornerstone of lasting productivity. Leaders can establish momentum by setting daily habits, utilizing tools like habit trackers, and employing the “Don’t Break the Chain” technique. These practices create a sense of accomplishment that fuels ongoing progress. This ongoing progress can contribute to a larger success than the sum of the individual successes involved.

Designing Systems for Long-Term Success

Implementing well-designed systems can streamline productivity. Leaders can optimize their workflow by employing tools that complement their natural tendencies. Tools like virtual assistants, organization apps, and prioritization matrices enhance efficiency and provide a structured framework for success. This, coupled with proper and thorough research into an individual’s workflow needs, greatly changes productivity over time.

Harnessing Lessons from Others’ Mistakes

Learning from others’ mistakes can be eye opening. Identifying common themes such as missed opportunities, unfulfilled expressions, and choices misaligned with values can guide leaders toward more informed decisions.

Additionally, understanding others’ successes can breed great results as well; However, take care and understand that successes and failures of one person often don’t align 100% with another’s challenges, even if it seems so.

Embracing Future-Oriented Regret Avoidance

Anticipating future regret serves as a powerful motivator for making better choices in the present. Leaders can optimize their decision-making by envisioning their future selves and considering the actions they would want to take at the present crossroads.

Additionally, by importing examples of past mistakes into the present frame of mind, leaders can take present action to build more effective systems.

Transitioning Gracefully between Tasks

Transitions between tasks can impact productivity. Showing up to the next task, immediately after the previous, may seem appealing in order to begin the work sooner. However, without capitalizing on the opportunity to recenter, one is setting oneself up for lower quality processes and outcomes. Intermediate steps, such as short breaks or light tasks, can smooth transitions and maintain focus throughout the day.

Efficiency for the Long Run

Productivity is an ongoing pursuit, and it’s essential to explore, refine, adapt, and upgrade solutions. Iteration is the key. By embracing an ongoing iterative process, one will be sure to maximize their systems and efficiency over the long run.

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

The Proactive Journey of Professional Reinvention

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Many individuals feel trapped or limited by career paths dictated by their education and professional experience. Deviating from one’s ‘established’ path can sometimes be met with surprise, or even negativity. However, it is worth considering a professional reinvention as a viable option for those seeking a change while still leveraging their existing skills effectively. Professional reinvention should not be seen as reactive, or as a last resort in a futile job search, but rather as a proactive and positive decision. Hiring managers who welcome individuals who have professionally reinvented themselves can unlock an abundance of talent and new possibilities for their organizations. What are some key aspects to consider when undergoing professional reinvention?

Recognize and prioritize the transferable skills you have acquired throughout your career that can be effectively utilized in various contexts. Skills such as coaching and mentoring, communication, and problem-solving, which you may have indirectly applied in one setting, can become the focal point in a different role or industry. You do not have to be your previous job title or degree.

Re-vamp your resume and LinkedIn. Break free from being narrowly defined. Emphasize your skills throughout your resume and include an “About” section at the beginning as a professional narrative that highlights your strengths, achievements, and the value you can bring to potential employers or clients. While your roles and experience are important and must be described, it is crucial to highlight your achievements, which are based on transferable skills, and demonstrate their applicability beyond specific roles or industries.

Be open to continuous learning. There will always be a learning curve in a new role, particularly along a new career path. Expect to be trained, mentored, or professionally developed along the way. Embrace the opportunity to apply your skills and experience in diverse and unfamiliar environments without hesitation.

Connect with your network. Consider your network beyond those who share the same role/title/industry. You may have engaged with professionals from diverse industries in the past, and your unique skill set could make you an ideal fit for opportunities outside of your current domain.

Maintain a positive and proactive attitude. This process does not diminish the value of your current or previous roles, nor does it imply a lack of success. It is a respectable choice that does not make you any less of a professional.

Professional reinvention involves proactively reshaping one’s career, embracing new opportunities, and leveraging transferable skills in diverse settings. This introspective, creative, and bold approach to your professional journey can unveil unexpected, rewarding possibilities that you may have never considered before.

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

Impactful Questions Drive Growth

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Slicing through the noise, an insightful question will zero in on the elements that drive revenue growth.

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Asking impactful questions fuels economic advancement by shaping the trajectory of a company. There is profound significance in asking the right questions as it hones in on the crux of the matter. This habit also provides new perspectives that cultivate an environment of thinking differently and expanding the dialogue, which enriches long term economic growth.

How To Begin?

“A habit must be established before it can be improved,” James Clear wrote in Atomic Habits. It does not matter how seasoned we presently are at asking questions, as we regularly invest in the practice, improvement will blossom. An example could be to ask one well thought out question per week. The individual establishing this habit will be in a different league in one year’s time. An impactful question isn’t necessarily a question of high-level language, but rather of high-level importance and clarity.

Inquiry, An Essential Leadership Habit

The skill of asking profound questions is an invaluable asset, let’s explore how:

Customer-Centric Disruption

To drive innovation that resonates with customers, questions like, “What unmet needs are our customers experiencing, and how can we create solutions that address these pain points?” focuses on investing in present and future customer growth.

Feedback Loop Enhancement

Leaders can use questions to improve team dynamics and innovation. “What aspects of our current processes hinder collaboration and idea-sharing?” By soliciting candid feedback, leaders create opportunities to refine internal practices and foster an atmosphere of continuous improvement.

We Didn’t Know That We Didn’t Know

A gap in knowledge may not be immediately uncovered. By creating a habit of regularly asking questions, we create a habit of uncovering key information that we may not have known we needed. By probing beneath the obvious, we can expose hidden opportunities as well as potential risks that might otherwise remain unnoticed.

Challenging Assumptions to Spark Innovation

Innovation flourishes when assumptions are challenged. Instead of settling for the conventional path, consider asking, “What if we approached this challenge from an entirely different angle?” This question prompts your team to break free from established thought patterns and explore innovative solutions that may have previously been overlooked. By encouraging ‘why’ and ‘what if’ questions, leaders open the door to disruptive ideas that fuel growth.

Reverse Engineering

Leaders can further encourage innovative thinking by asking questions that reverse engineer existing solutions. “If we were to start from scratch, how would we solve this problem differently?” This prompts teams to reexamine assumptions and discover novel approaches that can lead to breakthroughs and more efficient operations.

Interdisciplinary Exploration

“How can principles from a seemingly unrelated field inspire us to innovate in our industry?” This approach stirs fresh perspectives, invites in new angles, and opens potential interdisciplinary collaboration.

Clarifying Objectives

A good question has the power to distill complex goals into their essential components. Leaders who master this technique clarify the overarching objectives and guide their teams to channel their efforts purposefully. The result is a workforce aligned with a shared vision, propelling the organization towards revenue advancement.

Examples of Impactful Questions Organizations Could Be Asking

What Are Our Blind Spots?

What Can We Learn from Our Competitors’ Successes?

Are We Innovating from the Customer’s Perspective?

How Can We Make Decision-Making More Well Rounded & Wholistic?

What ‘Best Practices’ Are We Holding Onto, That Are Holding Us Back?

How Can We Foster Interdepartmental Synergy?

What Can We Learn from Our Former Employees?

How Can We Create More Value for Our Partners And Relationships?

What Could Make Our Customers Loyalty Waver?

What Are We Not Asking That We Should Be?

Are We Overlooking Low-Hanging Fruit?

It can be daunting to ask questions as it brings seemingly dormant problems to the forefront, but in truth, it is actually bringing solutions to the forefront! When members of an organization embrace the art of questioning, an atmosphere of continuous improvement is nurtured. This fuels profitable growth as teams rally around improving their systems and products as well as innovative problem-solving.

“Ask questions the other person will enjoy answering,” said Dale Carnegie. Not all of our questions may achieve this, but when higher order questions also intersect with the interests of others, engaging and fruitful conversations often occur.

The power of inquiry remains a steadfast anchor guiding leaders and their organizations towards sustained success. Irrespective of titles, leaders who hone the skill of asking impactful questions are key in driving organizational growth.

Do you have comments, questions, ideas, or suggestions? Share with us at: [email protected]

Promoting Strong Team Connections

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Hiring managers promote bringing your most authentic selves to work. However, we can often miss the mark when we get caught up in the results, navigating a competitive market, and playing politics. While the primary focus of any organization is to promote its product or message, company culture is also a key driver for solid teams.

For teams working together in an office, there are a plethora of opportunities, such as:

  • Pre-work coffee talks
  • Team lunches
  • After-work meetups
  • Team outings

For teams who work predominantly remotely, finding time to connect on a human level can be a bit more challenging. Here are a few examples of ways to strengthen the bonds between employees:

Virtual Learning Opportunities. For teams who thrive on continuous learning, educational opportunities can help greatly with bringing your team together. Finding virtual team learning that exemplifies your employees’ strengths and interests can strengthen your team all around. Listen to your employees’ class preferences and set them up to attend them. Additionally, find out which topic would be of top interest to all employees (as a unit) and schedule a course. By implementing individual interests and group interests, you will improve skills across the board and highlight the passions of your team.

Team Book Club. Find books that inspire your team on an intellectual level and career level. Allow your team to present their insights in the manner that they find most comfortable. When it comes time to discuss the book, your team’s creativity will be showcased, and you will have a better understanding of their analytical interests. Some will come to the meeting with writings, some with speaking points, others with PowerPoints, some may even come with art they produced. A book club is a well-rounded option to promote creativity and allow your team to teach each other.

Dedicate some time for nonwork-related conversations. Utilize your face-to-face (virtual) meetings to include time for employees to talk to each other as people. This is an established practice for the DERGEL Media team. During this time, we discuss News, how it ties/compares to history, what it could mean for the future, and to bring it full circle: how it affects business leaders and their employees.

Maintaining solid bonds among your team in a healthy manner will promote confidence, creativity, and drive to support each other through difficult times. Take the time to understand your team on a human and intellectual level and build a plan that keeps them in mind. Whether your team is in-person, hybrid, or remote, you will uncover their greatest array of strengths and watch as they grow into their most authentic selves.

Contact us and let’s get started!

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