Top Tips for Recruiting Top Talent

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It’s that time of year!  Spring has sprung, graduates have graduated, and businesses are kicking it into high gear.

Each year at this time, I see an uptick in consulting and recruiting questions directed my way. However, this year is particularly different with unemployment being the lowest since 1969. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 2, 2019, unemployment is still sitting at a record low of 3.6%.

Trying to recruit top talent in this economy is going to require a strategic, multi-pronged and thoughtful approach. Here are my top six tips for employers to recruit the best talent in today’s candidate-friendly climate.  

  1. Understand exactly what you need in your next hire.

The more detailed and organized you are about hiring your next employee, the better your chances are in finding that person. The days of posting a generic job description and sitting back receiving resumes are over. Today, employers need to be more thoughtful about identifying traits and qualities new hires should possess to make their team the best. Do you need someone with strong analytical skills? A big picture thinker? A peacemaker? Someone with very specific industry experience? Once you have identified those details, you can be more strategic about finding that person. Only after honing in on very specific things needed for a job, was I able to put together a precise approach to finding that person.

  • Have a bigger budget and longer pipelines to find your next employee.

Need to fill a role ASAP? It’s probably going to take you twice as long to get that position filled because there aren’t as many candidates in this type of economy.

Additionally, it’s wise to forecast time and money towards all upcoming positions you may need to fill in the foreseeable future. I highly recommend considering all employee needs between now and end of 2019, then, think of ways to keep great candidates close to your company. This could mean engaging with a recruiter or consultant to provide frequent guidance, expanding your job board postings budget, and/or offering a referral/recruitment plan to your current employees. 

  • Make sure your company brand is clear and concise across all platforms.

In a tight candidate economy, it’s important to make sure your brand stands out. Clarity and consistency are paramount in making that happen. It still seems to ring true that individuals, brands and businesses only have approximately 7 seconds to make a strong first impression. If your branding isn’t clear or consistent, you miss the opportunity to stand out to employees who are looking.

Take a quick audit of your social media platforms, company website and job postings. Have you used the same logo on each page? Have you used the same color palette in every post? Are you clear in communicating who you are and what you do? Hiring a brand consultant or strategist to help you review those details may be worth the money.  

  • Educate your current employees on how to be a brand ambassador or influencer.

Influencer marketing is all the rage right now and you can utilize the same tools with your current employees. Award bonuses and incentives to employees who create brandable content that helps promote the company.  

  • Video content is important to an overall recruitment strategy in 2019.

According to a February 2019 White Paper by technology giant Cisco, video content will increase to 85% of all IP traffic by 2022.

Video can elevate your social media channels and company career pages. Highlight your office space, clientele, or unique factors of your company and employees. The more information you share in short or long form video, the more people will know about your brand.

  • Manage expectations from the very beginning of the recruitment cycle.

One of the most important things you can do for a new employee is to offer authenticity from the first impression. Talking about the open position and company in a way that is positive and enthusiastic communicates a tone for the relationship that is far different than if you use general terms, are unorganized or unclear about what your company has to offer the new hire.  

Managing and setting the tone for expectations can affect the way a candidate interacts with you and ultimately how successful the working relationship can be!

I hope these tips help as you are looking for great talent to add to your team in 2019. If you are looking for additional consulting, reach out to us! www.ShannonMcKain.com

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Shannon is a motivational keynote speaker and business consultant based in Dallas, TX. She has worked in almost all 50 states with audiences ranging from corporate executives to student leaders.

Intrinsic Motivation

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A couple of years ago, I traveled to Barcelona for a trip with two of my girlfriends. We were having the time of our lives exploring the city, enjoying new experiences, and dining on great food.

Unfortunately, I had packed the wrong shoes for walking around this beautiful city and by day three my feet were over it! I told my friends I didn’t care what mode of transportation passed us next, I was flagging it down and getting a ride back to the hotel. I turned around and here came Alex, with the biggest smile, pedaling a rickshaw.

I knew from experience that rickshaws weren’t the most cost effective means of transportation. In fact, Alex quoted a price that made me gasp, but I couldn’t walk another step, so we climbed aboard his rickshaw and away we went. I wasn’t prepared for the conversation that would follow.

Alex began asking us lots of questions…where were we from, what were we doing in Spain, how we liked Barcelona, and more. During the ten-minute ride, we learned that he was a sophomore at the local university. He LOVED being a rickshaw driver and had some big goals. He realized that if he got up an extra hour everyday to work, he could save enough money over the next semester to buy his own rickshaw and start his own company. He handed me his business card and it was clear he had created a marketing and business plan to get his company off the ground and make a living. His motivation as a young person was overwhelmingly refreshing and I began to wonder if he was born with some level of intrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation is defined as engaging in a behavior because it is personally rewarding, not for an external award. Alex possessed five key components that had helped him realize measurable success over a short amount of time.

  • Achievement drive – the personal drive to improve and achieve
  • Commitment – the ability to set, and reach, goals
  • Initiative – the willingness and readiness to act on opportunities
  • Optimism – the gift of finding the silver lining, even after a set-back
  • Resilience – the ability to adapt and overcome

The more I’ve studied the relationship between motivation and emotional intelligence, the more I’ve understood how we become motivated the most when we find activities that allow us to operate at an optimal “flow.”

Daniel Goleman, author of Working with Emotional Intelligence gives the example of “Joe.” Joe is someone who finds his work exhilarating and performs at his best. The key to exhilaration is not the task itself – Joe’s job is often routine – but the special state of mind Joe creates as he works, a state called “flow.” Flow moves people to do their best work, no matter what work they are doing.

Goleman isn’t the only expert in “flow.” Years ago, I meandered through a Barnes & Noble and found a book titled Flow. The psychology of the optimal experience.

In 1975, Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi defined flow as, “the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at a great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.” Csikszentmihalyi said that psychologists who study happiness, life satisfaction and intrinsic motivation have found this definition helpful.

The idea of flow and intrinsic motivation fascinates me. The idea that someone like Alex was intrinsically motivated to start his own company at the age of 20 and put the desire into action is inspiring.

Recently, I asked a few friends these questions:

  • What motivates you?
  • When do you feel you are performing at an optimal level?
  • What in your life do you take initiative on?

 

The range of answers was pretty cool…

  • Creating solutions for customers
  • When I am working on something really important for someone else
  • Motivated by learning, growing and creating
  • Having a goal, dream or vision
  • To be the best in my profession

Emotional intelligence and motivation go hand-in-hand. If you get out of bed everyday but aren’t compelled to live your life with a sense of purpose, perhaps you need to ask yourself those three questions. I want to know what drives people, what makes them tick, what makes them want to give 110%. And I want that for you, too.

Motivation is what pushes us to achieve our goals, feel more fulfilled and improve overall quality of life. Without proper motivation, the quality of work is likely not at its full potential. Understanding what motivates you is a primary component in becoming more emotionally intelligent, but also in achieving success in life.

So, what’s motivating you today? Is it to return to school? Earn a promotion? Take a dream vacation? Pay off some debt?

In my keynotes, I talk about emotional intelligence and success in the workplace. From working with c-level executives in healthcare, middle managers in corporate America or students forging the start of their careers, I am passionate about helping people find their definition of success.

 

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Shannon is a motivational speaker based in Dallas, TX. She has worked in almost all 50 states with audiences ranging from corporate executives to student leaders.

What does Patrick Mahomes have to do with Emotional Intelligence?

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I’ve been studying emotional intelligence for nearly two decades and the more I research, the more I realize no matter how “emotional” one is, we all have an opportunity to grow more “emotionally intelligent.”

Specifically, a key factor to the EQ formula includes managing our emotions. It’s not enough to simply have awareness of our emotions. Being able to be in control emotionally is huge but can also be challenging. We are wired to feel emotion through the limbic system in our brain. The degree to which we experience emotions differs from person to person, but we all feel anger, stress, fear, and happiness. It’s how we respond to those emotions that are so important – critical, really – in affecting our interactions with others in the workplace.

Take Kansas City Chiefs 2nd year Quarterback Patrick Mahomes II; who is just 23 years old!  In the spotlight of Monday Night Football’s national stage, Mahomes performed on a level rarely seen in Kansas City let alone in the NFL.  Not only did he display exemplary skill, he also managed his emotions in a way, I believe, helped him lead the Chiefs to their fourth consecutive win!

There were several variables that a person lacking emotional intelligence would have allowed to affect their performance.  Flags disrupting the Chiefs offensive rhythm, the pressure of needing to overcome a ten point 4th quarter deficit, the deafening roar of the opposing fans at Denver’s Mile High Stadium and relentless pressure from the Bronco’s defense. But during all of it, I barely saw Mahomes get worked up. Instead, he was calm and collected for almost the entire game. That is a huge part of what emotional intelligence is – managing your emotions especially in challenging moments to still achieve your desired outcome.

During my years in corporate America, I found the same principle to ring true. It was much easier to become energized and remain positive about my job when working for someone who exhibited servant leadership and stayed calm, even when faced with difficult business decisions. These people made me want to work harder and do better, because my efforts were valued. Likewise, I’ve experienced projects that left me feeling emotionally drained and pessimistic when I worked for someone who couldn’t control his or her emotions and expressed extreme verbal frustration when I didn’t meet my goals. That’s a tough and toxic environment in which to work and ultimately caused me to change my circumstances (i.e. get a new job!).

The next time you are watching a sporting event, observe the leadership of the team or the coaching staff. How are they responding in the heat of the moment? How does that behavior affect the players and supporting coaches? One of my favorite recent articles about emotional intelligence in the sports world discusses the Philadelphia Eagles decision to hire an “emotionally intelligent” coach and the team’s success as a result of that hire.

Not a sports fan? That’s ok! You can make these same observations at work or school. Identify someone in a leadership position and take note of the way they respond to critical issues. Then, look at those around them. Are employees eager to please, because they respect the leader? Or, do they seem bent and broken from years of working under autocratic leadership?

With a few simple steps, we can all learn to manage our EQ and take our game to the next level.

  1. Take a day and focus on what triggers your emotions both positively and negatively. Use your senses. What smells, sounds, sight and the environment around you triggers you to react. Having awareness is the first key step.
  2. Knowing what those triggers are, identify 1-2 ways that will help you stay calm and collected before you react. Do you need to walk away from the situation? Do you need to write down your thoughts first?
  3. Think about these three key areas of managing your emotions: Control, Accountability and Adaptability.

Just like Patrick Mahomes II, we all have the ability to strengthen our EQ especially in intense moments. It’s the practice and education that makes us ready for them.

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One of my most popular speaking topics is, “Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: What’s your EIQ?” wherein I work with groups to discuss ways to identify, assess and control their own personalities and to work with the variety of personalities they encounter in the workplace. My Four Square approach will help everyone increase his or her social and emotional I.Q. Sound like this might be a good fit for your organization? Let’s talk!

Do you have this one key attribute?

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I was recently leading a two-day workshop for the leaders of various divisions across a company. We were having a blast talking all things leadership, emotional intelligence, generational differences and personal development in the workplace.

I love having opportunities like this to spend so much time with corporate or student leadership teams, helping them grow and evolve!

As we started the self-awareness piece of the workshop, I asked all attendees to complete a personality test. Though I was certain everyone in the room had taken various tests throughout their careers, I wanted to focus on a different aspect for the purpose of our training. I handed each attendee a 40-question test and upon completion, we compiled the answers into four groupings of “personalities.”

As we looked at the attributes of the personality groups, nearly everyone nodded in agreement as they unveiled attributes that defined the group in which they felt like they belonged: “life of the party,” “analytical,” “inclusive,” “logical,” and so on.

Then, I changed the results from how the participant saw him or herself, to how others interpreted those personalities in the workplace. In one case, the HR Director saw herself as rational, firm on policy, and tough-minded. However, others in the office saw her as critical, ruthless, and lacking empathy. She was shocked to hear how she was perceived by her co-workers.

Being self-aware about our emotions isn’t just about knowing if we are happy or sad. It’s also about being aware of how our behaviors and emotions affect those with whom we interact. Understanding this could make all the difference in how successful our interactions are in the workplace.

It has been proven that people who are self-aware are able to achieve much more success because of this one key attribute.

If you are curious about ways to strengthen your self-awareness as it relates to personality and emotional intelligence, try this exercise:

Download your own worksheet:  SelfAwarenessActivity

On a piece of paper, create three columns: self awareness, perceived awareness, and other’s feedback. Write down all of the attributes you believe to be true about yourself in the first column. In the middle column, create a list of how you think others see you. Remember, it’s important for us to understand how we are perceived by others! The final column may take some time but is so worth it! Find a few people whom you trust to provide candid and constructive feedback.

Here’s a sample email you could send to these people:

Hi! I am working on my goals and self-awareness. Would you consider providing honest and constructive feedback about these four questions? I have intentionally left them open-ended so you can provide answers in your own words. Thanks, in advance, for helping me become a better {peer, coworker, student, boss, etc.}.

In the workplace, please describe how you view me in these areas:

  • Personality: Do others see me as funny? Inclusive? Kind? Hard to work with? Easy going? Strict on deadlines? Overly emotional?
  • Work Product: How can I improve my work as part of the overall team/company success?
  • Strengths: What are my strengths and how can I better use them to contribute to our team?
  • Weaknesses: Are there things I do that may be perceived as a weakness or that may prevent me from being seen as a leader in the office?

I hope this exercise helps you become more self-aware and emotionally intelligent in all areas of your life. My goal is to create more cohesive teams and develop better leaders, and I believe that being emotionally intelligent about ourselves and those around us is key for optimal success!

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Shannon is a motivational speaker based in Dallas, TX. She has worked in almost all 50 states with audiences ranging from corporate executives to student leaders.

Advancing Your Career After a Break

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Last month, I was on CBS KCTV5 Better Kansas City TV Show for my monthly TV segment. These segments explore a variety of topics that align with my keynotes. From emotional intelligence and leadership to this month’s topic: getting started in the workforce or advancing your career after a break.

The job market can sometimes be scary. Whether you’re a new college graduate looking for a first job, a stay-at-home parent hoping to re-enter the workforce or someone scouting out a career change to a completely different field, I have four tips to help you get back into the game!

Over the years, I’ve had the honor of recruiting for and consulting with, companies large and small. I am passionate about helping students, educators and those already in corporate America establish career paths.

Do you know the #1 problem regarding applicants in today’s job market? Do you know what companies look for when hiring new employees? Do you know how to overcome the hurdle of lack of experience?

Watch my segment to learn how to overcome these obstacles and transition back to the workforce with greater ease.  After watching, let me know your favorite tip!

As always, wishing you ALL the best. If you are looking for a motivational speaker or a consultant, give us a call. We’d love to work with you!

Interview Spotlight: Liz Murray

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If you’ve heard me speak or read my past blog posts, you may know I have a few themes that apply to all audiences.

  • Dream big, then make a plan to reach your goals
  • We are all just one mentor away from becoming our best self
  • Your success is heavily reliant on your personal brand

There are others, of course, but these three apply to students in school and adults in the workplace. They’re things I focused on early in my career. In fact, I am a work in progress and still make time to evaluate how I’m doing in these areas.

You can imagine my delight when I recently had a chance to interview Liz Murray and talk to her about dreams, goals, mentors and personal brands.

Liz is an inspirational speaker known for her acceptance in to Harvard despite spending some of her youth homeless.

She’s the voice behind one of my favorite Ted Talks and has traveled the country talking about her love for what’s possible in life. She seems to thrive on the notion of “what if…” And, she’s proof that your past doesn’t predict your future.

Liz turned adversity into opportunity. Instead of letting her hardships define her, she found someone who believed in her and in what was possible.

Her hashtag may be longer than most, but it speaks of resiliency, hope, and – of course – infinite possibility.

#fortheloveofpossibility

What’s yours?

KCTV5 | Generational Communication Differences

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Earlier this month I was on CBS KCTV5 Better Kansas City TV Show for my monthly segment. These segments explore a variety of topics that align with my keynotes. From emotional intelligence and personal branding to this month’s topic: personality and generational differences.

Thanks to technology, there are many ways we communicate with loved ones, friends, co-workers and business prospects. However, it can be challenging to navigate the proper channels of communication as each generation has preferred ways of connecting.

How do you know which method of communication is best? What’s the difference between sending a recruiter or a boss a text, LinkedIn Message or email?

Watch my segment to learn how to effectively communicate with all audiences! After watching, let me know – what was your favorite tip?!

As always, wishing you ALL the best in your life journey. If there is anything I can do for you – whether it’s providing a keynote for your organization or individual coaching, reach out to Brynn or me. We’d love to help make you and your organization the best it can be!

The Go-Giver

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CBS KCTV5 Better Kansas City TV Segment | The Go-Giver

“The Go-Giver”, one of my all time favorite books was given to me in 2011 by two individuals I now call dear friends. The premise of the book is that shifting one’s focus from getting to “giving” (in this context, giving meaning constantly and consistently providing value to others) is not only a nice way to live life and conduct business, but a very financially profitable way, as well.

This simple idea has helped me be more successful as well as numerous other folks I have witnessed implement these same principles by Bob Burg and John David Mann. Want the cliff notes version? Here you go.

  1. The Law of Value.
    • This is the idea that your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
  2. The Law of Compensation.
    • This is the idea that your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
  3. The Law of Influence.
    • This is the idea that your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.
  4. The Law of Authenticity.
    • This is the idea that the most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
  5. The Law of Receptivity.
    • This is the idea that the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

My favorite law is #4 – the Law of Authenticity. I remember early on in my speaking career I had an engagement that required me to speak twice a day for three days. When I first started this profession, I thought I had to be something I’m not – stuffy, basic and ultra conservative. However, by day three of this particular engagement, I was exhausted. I remember I was so tired that the walls I had built up broke down and I started speaking from the heart and authentically to who I was – not someone I thought I had to be. The result? It was by far the best speaking engagement I had to that date. I connected far better with audience attendees than I ever had and since then, I have vowed to never allow myself to be unauthentic again.

My wish for anyone reading this blog and truly wants to be successful in life, is that you will think about the concepts of this book. It is human nature to constantly think about our own needs, but by shifting our mindset and focusing on other’s, it’s proven that we will be much more successful.

3 EQ Strategies to Get A Better Read On Your Boss

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3 EQ strategies to get a better read on your boss

When it comes to getting ahead in your career, understanding your boss is paramount for your own career goals. This month on CBS KCTV5 Better Kansas City, I chatted with Alexis about how to read your boss’s behavior using some techniques of Emotional Intelligence.

Here’s a quick snapshot if you don’t have time to watch the segment!

Observe:

  • Understand how your boss uses verbal cues such as tone, inflection, rate, pitch and pauses in verbal communication. Understanding and reading how your manager uses these cues will help you assess how to appropriately respond and emotionally connect (in a professional way of course). Example: Does your boss speak fast because he is nervous? Excited? A different reason? Knowing this will empower you in a way to better connect with him.
  • See if you can identify the root cause of his/her emotions in different scenarios so you are prepared during more stressful moments to still be able to assess and manage the relationship.

Inquire about personality type:

  • Meyer’s Briggs, Strengths Finders, True Colors, etc. See if you can strike up a conversation early on to determine your boss’s personality strengths. Is he highly analytical? Big picture thinker and less interested in details? Rigid? Flexible? Knowing these sorts of personality traits will be helpful in reading his behavior and clue you in to how you can communicate effectively.

Pay attention to details around the office:

  • What are the elements your boss values? Does he value structure? Open office spaces? Does he enjoy weekly pep talks? Pay attention to the details your management cares about. This is an easy way to become more emotionally intelligent regarding your boss’s needs.

 

Being emotionally intelligent has proven to be one of the best strategies to achieving success in your career path. The better you can connect with your boss, the better it will be for your career.

Honoring A Legacy

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Last night as I watched many of my friends on social media post in shock, excitement or outrage; I silently pondered what the next four years would look like.

It was an easy answer for me.

Recently, the world lost one of its brightest lights, pioneers and inspirational women and the next four years won’t nearly be the same without her.

Suzanne Mitchell

Former Director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC)

As you might recall, two years ago I had the incredibly honor of interviewing Suzanne at the National Football League Alumni Cheerleader Reunion in Atlanta, GA. Over 300 women from across the country came together to mingle, network, and celebrate our collective role in the NFL. These women were incredible national sales directors, tv personalities, biologists and lawyers. But one light shined brighter than everyone else, and that was Suzanne.

Suzanne has affectionately been called the “Godmother of Professional Cheerleading” – credited with crafting the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders into what they are today.

Her story is so powerful and inspiring that everyone from The Washington Post, New York Times, Dallas News and many more publications wrote about her legacy. And the turnout for her Celebration of Life event this past weekend makes it clear just how many lives she touched.

Although I only briefly knew Suzanne, I was moved by the powerful words used to describe Suzanne’s legacy and I asked myself: how do you possibly honor such an extraordinary woman who has touched so many lives over the years?

Suzanne’s Celebration of Life was nothing short of fabulous. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and Suzanne’s family did an extraordinary job of honoring her from beautiful bouquets of her favorite flower (yellow rose) to a butterfly release and even a surprise appearance from Lee Greenwood who sang his famous song: God Bless the U.S.A.

There was a group of alumni NFL cheerleaders from several teams who flew in for the celebration. I was honored to be in attendance.

As we look forward to the next four years, no matter what happens, I have to remember the legacy that Suzanne left behind and the example she set for so many.

The words that were used to describe her included things like, “pioneer, strong, self-starter, not afraid, insanely loyal, leader and one of the most inspirational individuals both men and women had known”.

When I think about the legacy any of us leave on this planet, I think about people like Suzanne, or my other cheer coaches Elaine, Stephanie, Linda and Nancy. You don’t have to have a specific title to make a positive impact in the world, but you DO have to care enough to dream big, accept challenges, and be kind to those around you. If I have learned anything in the last 24 hours, it’s that we could all use more of that in our world today.

Rest in Peace Suzanne. You were a tremendous individual I was so lucky to have met.