Want to know an easy FIX for hiring a high-performing team that most companies aren’t doing (but easily could)?

It’s all about Organisational Design.

But first...a question:

Q: Why are we STILL trying to push square pegs into round holes?

A: I have no idea but…I was going to title this post: “It’s Time to Rethink Recruitment and Embrace a Skills-Led (and culture add) Approach?”

(It aligns the recruitment for culture ADD rather than culture FIT mantra that I bang on about like a broken record!)

The Challenge:

In Adelaide, Australia and across the Globe, the talent pool has shrunk dramatically. We're in a post-pandemic, low productivity, impending retirement-cliff, workplace exodus, AI replacing jobs, cost of living crisis, millennials leading the workplace "Perfect Storm"...A V.2 War For Talent.

Clinging to outdated job descriptions? That's a strategy destined to fail.

The Solution:

Forget fitting square pegs in round holes. It's time for a change how we hire. Focus on the “skills potential” hires bring to the table, not rigid job roles.

𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞:

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭!

Why It Works:

Skills-led organisation design isn't just innovative; it's necessary.

When we view jobs as a collection of skills rather than fixed roles, we create flexible, dynamic workplaces. It’s agile and allows us to meet evolving project demands and market changes effectively.

Be Flexible:

Think of recruitment like shopping for dinner (great example from KPMG’s Mark Essex). "Sometimes, you substitute aubergines for courgettes" (eggplant for zucchini for Aussie readers).

𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

4 TOP TIPS TO ACTION TODAY:

1. Value potential and adaptability over specific experience.
2. Expand your talent pool and foster a more inclusive workplace.
3. Recruit for Culture Add
4. Recruit for Skills Add.

The Result:

You (and your organsiation) will go from surviving to thriving.

Organisations that already do this (yes, you read that right it's happening so don't get left behind) are crafting roles that harness the full spectrum of available skills, improving job satisfaction, and enhancing employee experiences. Which won't just build hire performing teams...it'll help retain them!

I hope this is helpful for leaders looking to build better companies...and I hope it inspires job seekers, who might not usually apply to a role because they don't match every criteria on a job advertisement, to not lose heart and know their worth!

Mark Johnson is a Millennial, Executive Recruiter at EGM Partners. He writes to help people be the best versions of themselves (inside and outside of work), to build better companies and progress South Australia. To join the conversation follow Mark Johnson and the EGM Recruitment page.