Let's Launch 2021 Together!

WE DID IT. We powered through the unique challenges and discoveries of 2020, and we are ready to launch into the new year! Elevation's core values fuel our team, and we want to share a few with you to hold onto as we all plan our new year's goals.  

Reach higher. Embrace a challenge. 

We embraced the challenge of 2020 and are taking what we have learned into a brighter new year! What are the ways we can personally and professional reach higher? Perhaps it's by waking up one hour earlier to exercise, read, or meditate. It could also mean stretching yourself by setting a new professional goal. Leaders: equip, challenge, and motivate your employees to reach higher. Encourage them to embrace new challenges. Motivate them to try new things and think outside of the box!  

Stay curious. 

This year has taught us to adapt and innovate. As things continue to shift, it is critical to open our minds to new business and team strategies. Explore new avenues to connect with employees and engage with clients and industry experts. This can look like virtual interviews, remote team building activities, mental health resources or something unique to your industry. Whatever it is you engage in, let’s stay curious, agile and open to new ways of operating as things continue to evolve!  

Do it the right way, always. 

Be respectful and honest in what you do. Be the leader that stays true to your values and empowers your organization to operate with integrity. This year has brought unique challenges for many but something that sustains us and speaks volumes is how we take care of ourselves and others. 

Stepping into this new year, Elevation wants to remind you to invest in yourself and your people. Let’s build communities of advocates, innovators, and future leaders. Find people who align with your values so you can continue building a strong, sustaining foundation. Engage partners that understand your culture and goals AND want to help you and your company strive for excellence! 

If you are an executive leader looking for a true partner to help you scale your team, Elevation is here to help! We serve as an extension of our clients in competitive talent markets across the nation to engage top talent. If you are curious to know more, we would love to talk: retained@elevationsearchsolutions.com.  

From the Elevation team to you: Be well, stay safe, and happy holidays! 

Cat People and Dog People

A respected local businessman I know recently gave me some insight on one of his best kept secrets to hiring success.  Aside from just being flat good at his trade, why do I always have a superior customer service experience every time?  How does he do it?  I wanted to know.

Turns out, there really is a lot of truth to training, hiring the right people, and making sure those hired people enjoy working together and working in general.  Unhappy, unmotivated employees are not going to be able to provide meaningful contributions on a long term, consistent basis. 

Yes, yes, of course.  But specifics, please.  

“In the interview, I always ask the applicant if they are a cat person or a dog person.  I tend to hire dog people, unless I need a real task master or ops person.  In those cases, I hire cat people.  They enjoy being left alone, but come out to play when they want to.  They’re also completely self-sufficient.  They don’t really need me and the claws come out when you do something they aren’t keen on.  They keep everybody else in line.  You know, Forbes wrote an article on Cat People vs Dog People several years after I talked to my staff about it.  One of them brought the article in to show me one day.  ‘Look!  You were right!’.  I thought that was pretty neat.”

I have yet to read the Forbes article.  I’m sure it’s easy enough to find out there, but it doesn’t really matter.  It all boils down to the fact that there is a true skill to sourcing and hiring the right person for an organization that goes far beyond simply a job description.  Finding someone who ticks off all the requirements and who presents well is the easy part.  The real art lies in developing the right mix of cat people and dog people to ensure a business grows successfully and sustainably.