It’s a scenario every recruiter and hiring manager knows well… I had spent a few months completing a difficult search for a Creative Director. Although we had a strong shortlist, there was one candidate who was clearly preferred by me and the client. For weeks he had been measured and deliberate throughout the process. He […]
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How executive recruitment finds leaders who actually make a difference
When I started the search 18 months ago for a CFO for a manufacturing business going through major expansion, the client’s original brief was clear: they wanted a qualified accountant, manufacturing experience, and a strong systems background. Pretty standard stuff. What we learned in our subsequent conversations was something much more: they needed someone who […]
Read MoreThe perils of overanalysing body language in interviews
Where do you stand on body language? Hopefully not slouching and with your arms crossed? Body language has become big business. There are many “experts” appearing on TV and in the press who analyse body language in interviews. They tell us what a particular celebrity or politician was thinking, but not saying. In a business […]
Read MoreThe qualities of a good leader recruiters look for
As a recruiter of leaders and senior managers, I’m often asked “what are the qualities of a good leader that you look for in candidates?” At this level, it’s often the case that most candidates I meet can probably do the job, at least to some extent. The interview has to confirm that they have […]
Read MoreAre there too many business experts?
The world – and LinkedIn in particular – seems to be full of business experts. People who have the ultimate solution to your problem, whether about leadership, coaching, sales, hiring, AI and technology, and countless other issues we all face as business owners, employees and individuals. Some of them, no doubt, have earned their expert […]
Read MoreDeath of a (good) salesman?
Having just spent several long days at a sprawling trade exhibition, I’m left with the sense that good sales skills are harder to find than ever. It’s seems that we really are witnessing the death of a (good) salesman to paraphrase Arthur Miller. New business is tough to find. Almost every company I speak to wants to […]
Read MoreLocal government leadership: council bosses lead the way
The results of leadership research carried out by bfpeople shows that bosses in local government have better leadership judgement than those in other industries or professions. Council chief executives achieved the highest overall leadership judgement in the analysis of more than 17,000 professionals who completed the Leadership Judgement Indicator (LJI) a psychometric test widely used in […]
Read MoreBad sales calls
It’s early in the morning and I’m in the office – the only one here. The office phone rings, so I answer it: Caller: “Mr Hamilton, please”Me: “Yes, that’s me.” There follows several minutes of scripted monologue from the caller about how I “can’t afford to miss” the opportunity of entertaining 10 guests at a […]
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