Hiring Is a Two-Way Street

Hiring is a two-way relationship. Companies need good team members and those team members want to know they're valued. Somewhere along the way, Corporate America seems to have forgotten that. With a "quantity over quality" approach to workers, benefits, and job security, it's no wonder people are changing jobs, careers, and cities more than ever.

Some companies and economic sectors are challenging this trend, but employee trust in the system has already eroded. It's up to companies to look at their practices and renew trust for their new hires and current team members.

New Approach, Mutual Benefit

One of our team members, Ewa Ewa, analyzed different hiring styles and the criteria they focus on while a psychology student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The two primary styles are Role Based (KSA) and Profile Based (Fit).

KSA's acronym stands for Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, the KSA approach focuses on the individual's ability to complete the job the company needs to be done. This approach focuses on a person's fit for the task, but less on their fit in the company. This can lead to team members who are a poor fit for the company's culture and values, which can lead to dissatisfaction and higher turnover

The Fit approach focuses on how potential team members will match with the company by looking at four primary factors: job fit, supervisor fit, group fit, and organization fit. This approach to compatibility can result in better employee-employer alignment, leading to stronger, closer, and longer-lasting teams.

The Wheel of Fit

Ewa's study led Red Circle to develop the Wheel of Fit, a tool designed to highlight the need for balance when finding the right team members. The Wheel of Fit incorporates traditional considerations like skills, education, compensation, and location, while also looking at company culture, team member personality, social responsibility, and work style.

That balance looks different for every company and every individual. Remember, a balance requires two weights: the team and the team member. When they're in harmony, everyone excels.

The system is useful for any company that wants to improve efficiency and reduce turnover. However for startups, whose smaller teams are more impacted by each hire they make, this balancing act is even more crucial.

Hire Right, Whatever the Need

Team members are more than hands for keyboards. Like any relationship, the employee-company partnership should be mutually beneficial, with compatible people. Comprehensive hiring practices that incorporate individuals' values and work styles as much as skills and abilities, lead to kick-ass team members and high-impact companies.