Learning Paths with Purpose are Key in Executive Search
November 23, 2016 | Posted by: Theresa Torseth | No Comments
Lateral moves are not what most employees dream about when joining your organization. Most say they are motivated by opportunities for professional growth – positions that promise purpose and fulfillment. Employees are more engaged when they believe you’re ready to provide them with ways to reach their career goals. It makes sense, then, to implement learning paths that not only improve morale and career satisfaction, but increase productivity and motivation.
There are many ways to achieve executive recruiting success, but making employee development a priority and establishing clear strategies for how talent will be grown from within benefits most organizations. Learning paths can be effective strategic tools for ensuring continuing growth and productivity for executives and companies alike. If you want to get a prospect’s heart rate pumping, make sure your executive recruiting strategy offers the opportunities recruits are seeking.
The Chance to Make a Difference
A Stanford research project found that one of the key factors people cite for living a meaningful life is the strength and talent to face difficult tasks to make positive contributions. In the work world, this means creating jobs that allow people to take on and overcome fulfilling challenges. Most employees don’t want tasks that are repetitive and easily mastered – they want work that’s complex and rewarding.
In-House Mentoring
Experienced mentors offer the advice and industry knowledge recruits need, and they often play a huge role in advancing careers. There are a number of things you can do to encourage such relationships.
- Develop an in-house mentoring program.
- Host networking events to help people connect.
- Encourage recruits to openly communicate with their mentors about what learning paths exist that will inspire and help them be more gratified in their work.
Opportunity for Growth
Give people the learning paths they crave to help them grow into their dream job. They’ll appreciate the added challenges that make them feel that they’re advancing to a higher level. Financial, career, personal, and professional opportunities for growth are the reasons employees are motivated to stay engaged with your organization.
It can take time and effort to carve out learning paths that create internal mobility, but the payoffs are worth it. If you want to keep a competitive advantage in executive recruiting, you’ll need to focus on providing those opportunities for growth prospects want. And helping your employees grow will ultimately help your business grow.