The continual acquisition of talented young people is necessary for any church, business, non-profit or sports team to have sustainable success. As a result, recruiting is the lifeblood of success. The question is are they willing to do what is necessary to obtain top recruits?
Today in National Signing Day for college football. For football fans in the South, it is practically a national holiday. For those of you not in the South, it is the day the top high school players make official where they will play college football.
Today I listened ESPN’s Paul Finebaum discuss the impact of Signing Day with radio host Colin Cowherd. What was interesting were his thoughts on Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban who Finebaum calls the finest recruiter in history.
In putting together the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class once again, Saban secured commitments from 5 of the 15 five-star players in the country. In contrast, the entire Big Ten conference only got 2. The following are 7 Practices Of Leaders Who Recruit Top Talent:
- Leaders Who Recruit Top Talent Are Likable – People have to be able to help you. Just as important, they must WANT to help you. Finebaum describes Saban as “folksy, calm.”
- Leaders Who Recruit Top Talent Connect With A Wide Range Of People – Finebaum said, “He can talk different languages.” I still remember the scene from The Blind Side when Saban was discussing drapes and decorating while recruiting Michael Oher.
- Leaders Who Recruit Top Talent Do Not Make Excuses – Organizations who do not secure or retain top talent make excuses. Despite his politically polarizing personality, Saban once brought in Jesse Jackson to speak to the team. Finebaum pointed out, “It worked.” This leads me to my next point.
- Leaders Who Recruit Top Talent Do What Works – Finebaum reminds us, “He will do anything that works.”
- Leaders Who Recruit Top Talent Are Fearless – Having people outside the program questions his methods does not phase Saban. Finebaum says, “He doesn’t care.”
- Leaders Who Recruit Top Talent Are Creative – Leaders who secure top talent do not say, “This is how we do things and if they want to be part of this, great. If not, we will get someone else.” Guess what – you will be getting someone else, most likely someone else with less talent. Hard-line organizational structure can produce rigidity and limit creativity. Securing top talent requires guidelines, not rules. Saban “makes it up as he goes along.”
- Leaders Who Recruit Top Talent Break All The Rules – If you do what everyone else does, you will get the same results as everyone else. Saban “breaks all the rules.”
Are you likable, connecting with a wide range of people, not making excuses, doing what works, fearless, creative and a rule breaker? If so, you are probably also recruiting top talent.
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