How to Hire A-Players: Finding the Top People for Your Team - Even If You Don't Have a Recruiting Department

Chapter 3. Three Steps to Creating an A-Player Team

Now that you know what an A-player looks like for key roles in your company, how do you start finding better talent? Here are three steps to take to create an A-player team.

First of all, you and your company have to adopt an A-player mind-set by demonstrating that you are constantly on the lookout for the best people. While most executives talk a good game here, in reality, their recruiting efforts are sporadic at best. Your focus on finding A-players must be ongoing and consistent.

Second, you and your leadership team must interview all the time. You have to develop a reputation as an organization that is always interested in meeting good people and willing to talk with them. This is the only way to develop a strong pipeline of potential employees from which to select A-players.

Third, you have to build a "farm team" of talented peoplewho work for someone else right now but would be thrilled to work for you in the future. The key here is to have a continually updated list of A-players who could fit right into your company and make a big contribution. If you and your leadership team are regularly cultivating your farm team, you will always have strong people to turn to when you want to hire someone.

Note

A-Player Principle: There are three steps to building an A-player team:

1. Create an A-player mind-set throughout your company.

2. Interview all the time.

3. Develop a farm team.

Create an A-Player Mind-Set

Chris Burkhard is president of CBI Group, ...