Articles - Recruiting and Candidate Dev

Last fall, my friend Ron in Seattle, called me and told me about his new consulting gig he was launching. He has been in the real estate business for a number of years and this new consulting venture tied right into the mortgage industry. If you are not aware of it, the recruiting industry is very similar to the real estate industry in process.

Ron was starting a “Master Mind” group. Master Mind groups are not a new idea. They were introduced in the   1930’s by Napoleon Hill who wrote the book “Think and Grow Rich”. This classic business book is among my most cherished resource books. The concept of Master Mind groups summarizes that in order to solve a problem, when one or more minds come together, a third mind is created.

This concept was used during the 1930’s to pull the U.S. out of the Great Depression and has been used ever since by leaders of this country as well as business leaders. Other names for Master Mind groups include “The Executive Forum” and the BBL (Breakthrough Business Leadership) among others.

Like many Master Mind groups today, Ron decided to charge each participate of his group about two thousand dollars a month. Like many Master Mind groups today, executives take a full day out of their schedules to meet in seminar/workshop like fashion to discuss business issues, management challenges, employee hurdles, production, retention, business development…. just about any business issue that is challenging group members.

One of the keys which make these groups successful is that members don’t directly compete with one another; participants can be open and honest, void of any fears of office and corporate politics. There is also a high level of accountability within these professional groups,  usually consisting of business leaders and executives ranging from small companies to large ones.

Ron asked me, “What are your immediate goals in your recruiting business?” I told him a specific number of send-outs and a specific number of conversations with hiring managers each week. Being the owner of a small boutique technology search firm; accountability can often be a challenge for me and time management is a key obstacle I need to hurdle on a daily basis.

Then Ron asked me an odd question; “tell me the name of the person you hate the most”. Well, “hate” is a strong word to me and therefore I said I don’t really ‘hate’ anyone. He prodded again, “who do you dislike intently?” Seeing he wasn’t going to give up,  I told him the name of a certain politician I dislike intently. “Do you really want to be held accountable for your performance?” Ron questioned. “Well of coarse I do” I fired back. Ron then quipped “get your check book out now. Write a check out for $250.00”. Hesitantly trusting my long time friend, I pulled out my check book and filled it out for $250.00.  He added “now fill in the name of the politician you dislike intently”. I stopped.

 There was no way I was going to give this person a dime, and if I made a campaign donation, my name would be in the public record as having supported this politician, which I loath. Panic started to set in. I could feel my blood pressure rising. “Come on, do it” Ron insisted. “I’m not going to cash it today” he said. “Now put the check in an envelope and mail it to me – now. Here’s the plan. I’ll call you every Friday afternoon. The day you tell me you failed to make your numbers will be the day I mail that check to the politician.”  Well that day is never going to happen – so I make my calls.

Now this little accountability method works for me, but it may not work for you. I’m motivated by fear rather than positive thinking and this method holds me accountable. Other recruiters use other methods. In a master mind group, you discover ways to make you and others successful.

I face the recruiting challenges of time management, email distractions, accountability, and isolation. So in the fall of 2007, and with the encouragement of my friend Ron, I created a Master Mind Group for recruiters. Recruiters are a unique breed of people. So mixing a Master Mind group with non-recruiters was not going to be productive. Most people just don’t “get” what we do and how we think. Having been a member of the US Recruiters Network, a group of independent recruiters throughout the U.S. who’s origins began with  alumni from MRI who transitioned into our own businesses of sole proprietors and small boutique firms. I knew a lot of recruiters who could potentially share the same need, have many of the same experiences, and be willing to give of their time to help others succeed in this industry as well. So in cooperation with USRN, I kicked off the first Master Mind group. 

The first Master Mind group consisted of three recruiters, who met (and still meet to this day) in a conference call every Monday morning for 30 – 60 minutes. Each participant commits to attending every week and participating in the conversation. Give and take is a requirement. There is no room for “takers” who do not add to the conversation with advice and feedback.

 Each week, we discuss a specific topic; Candidate prep, marketing, business development, sourcing, and other topics. We also discuss our individual successes from the previous week; our failures, the challenges we are facing. Participants add their advice from experience. We also set individual goals for the current week. On occasion, we will invite a guest speaker into the group to discuss a specific topic. This has proven to be very successful.

Since participants are all members of USRN, there is no charge to members for participating in a Master Mind group. In the past six months, we have formed five groups within USRN. More importantly, members are experiencing increased focus, accountability, comradely, training, knowledge, new ideas to run their business more efficiently and less isolation.

Others experience Increased confidence, sharpened business and personal skills, and added a valuable support network, they receive honest feedback, advice, and brainstorming. By borrowing on the experience and skills of the other members, we improve ourselves and the group as a whole.

This is a pretty good return for a one hour investment of time per week.

Although each group will be a little different, there are basic rules required to participate, which make a Master Mind group successful.

1. Commitment. Members must commit to the group and participating each week. Not attending affects the entire group. If a member misses more than two meeting they are out. Some groups allow less. Members should be committed to focusing on their situations. Members should be committed to growing personally and professionally
2. Participation. Each person must give as well as receive. Bring your challenges, but also bring solutions to others challenges. Your perspective, past successes and experiences help other members. Contribute, while respecting one another
3. The group agrees to confidentiality. It is important that each member knows these conversations are confidential and will not be discussed outside of the group.
4. Be prepared. Before coming into the conference call, we ask ourselves “what have I accomplished since our last group call?” My wins. My failures. What do I want to be held accountable for? What are the challenges I’m facing now?
5. Stay on Topic.
6. Do not hog the conversation. Everyone is allowed time to contribute.
7. Challenge members. Challenge members to think outside of the box. 
8. Members should be committed to each other’s success.

Mastermind Groups open the doors to a new world of opportunities for learning and change. Because support, accountability, and goal setting are enmeshed in the process, you can achieve extraordinary objectives much faster, and with more clarity, than when you attempt goals on your own. – Karmae Cipriotti Fahr, The Fahr Group

If you would like additional information about Master Mind Groups, please feel free to contact Gary Perman at the below information. Additional information can be found at http://www.evancarmichael.com/Mastermind-Group/2007/01/why-join-mastermind-group.html
http://www.sharedvisionnetwork.com/utility/showArticle/?objectID=375
http://www.speakernetnews.com/post/mastermind.html
http://mastermindgroups.org/

BIOGRAPHY

Gary Perman is a certified recruiting professional and a twelve-year veteran in the recruiting industry. He owns a national search firm called PermanTech, which specializes in recruiting technology executives, managers, and engineers.

PermanTech is ranked among the Top 7 Executive Recruitment Firms in Washington State by CEO Magazine. Gary is also a member of the Software Association of Oregon, IEEE, and The US Recruiters Network as well as hosts a technology blog at www.softwareassociation.org.

Contact Gary at gary@permantech.com or visit his Linked-In profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/permanwww.permantech.com or his Web site at www.permatech.com