How to Hire A-Players: Finding the Top People for ... - GIT home page

56 How to Hire A-Players
Fred Silverman was a legendary television producer in the 1970s
who was responsible for shows like Happy Days and Laverne &
Shirley. When asked to explain his strategy for turning a good show
intoahit,hehadathree-wordanswer:‘‘Keepiton.’’Silverman’s
approach was to create a show that he believed in, put it and keep it
on the air, and let the audience find it.
The same approach is true with finding and hiring A-players. You
have to implement these strategies and stick with them. Much like
finding new customers, this is not an overnight process. Over time
you will develop a reputation as an employer of choice. You will
also become adept at understanding the profile of people who excel
in your environment and hiring them when you find them, even if
you have to create a position. As you build a team of A-players that
out-executes the competition, you will create the business you have
always envisioned.
A-Player Payoff Points
Chapter 3: Three Steps to Creating an A-Player Team
Build a farm team of A-players who work for other companies
but want to work for you. This is the pipeline of talent
from which to build your company.
Hiring is a numbers game. Set goals for yourself and your
managers as to the number of people you will interview
each month. Require all managers to have at least two live
candidates on their farm team at all times, which will force
them always to be interviewing.
Remember that constantly interviewing does not mean
constantly hiring. Develop a reputation as a good person
for A-players to meet during their job search.
Create a talent incubator within your own business. It will
become a pool of people who already support your mission
and share your values.