How knowing your purpose can help you hire wisely

Today’s workforce is looking at business differently. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that we were working our way out of a global pandemic and discovering the things that really mattered in our lives. Those emotions are still very real for a modern workforce. And as people look for new opportunities in the workplace, it can be hard for companies to find staff that is willing to stick around if they aren’t feeling fulfilled in some way.

How can your business find the right team for the long-term? If you know your company’s purpose, you may already have a strategy in place that will help you find a team that believes in what you offer. The following are three things to consider as you work toward understanding your purpose, and how it can help you hire the best people possible.

Your company has a purpose. You need to be intimately aware of what that purpose is, and it needs to be more than words on a wall or a page on a website. Your mission and purpose should guide your company and serve as a North Star for your business. It can help you make decisions about your company’s future. And both customers and potential employees are taking note of what it is you stand for, and whether you’re living up to those promises.

In fact, the most recent report from The Edelman Trust Barometer shows that 60 percent of respondents interviewed will choose a place to work based upon whether it aligns with their personal values. That means you can’t simply say you stand for something — like a commitment to diversity and equity or a belief in certain social movements — and then not do anything to prove it.

You have to know what your purpose is from the standpoint of your business so you can find the right people to join your team. Knowing what you believe, why you believe it, and how you can demonstrate it with actions can be one of the smartest recruiting tools for your business.

People who are driven by a purpose are looking for an opportunity to find meaning in their work. They want to both feel inspired and inspire others. And they want to be able to be their authentic selves in the workplace. When you build a company structure with purpose, you’ll see everyone from entry-level staff to management leading as positive energizers that helps your company grow.

It’s more worthwhile to hire the right cultural fit versus hiring for a specific skill. The right candidates will have done their homework. They know how they will fit into your culture and your company’s purpose. After all, candidates who know their purpose will bring passion to the table, too. And those are the people who will push the limits, find ways to innovate, and bring passion and excitement to the table.

As you hire, watch for potential employees who are confident in showing how they fit into your business but have humility and a great attitude. They might be the ones who can bring the most positive outcomes to your company.

Data from Gartner, a company that provides actionable business insights to global executives, shows that post-pandemic, employees are looking for more purpose within their work. Their model, called “The Human Deal,” shows that employees are more invested in their companies when they feel understood, cared for, and valued. And to feel more invested, they must believe they have a shared purpose within the organization.

Similarly, McKinsey & Company, a firm that supports organizations build strong workforces, reports that two-thirds of employees in the United States began reflecting on their purpose in life after the pandemic. They report that 70 percent of employees find their purpose in what they do within the workplace. And if your purpose matches that of your employees, chances are, they’ll be a lot happier in the end.

It’s not enough to know your purpose and hire great people to fulfill those roles. Make sure you’re also empowering your entire staff to find their own purpose within your company’s structure so they feel fulfilled in their work every day. It will go a long way toward keeping them engaged and wanting to meet the mission and vision you’ve defined for your company.

Do things feel off with your business? Are you struggling to keep your employees engaged and motivated? It might be time to re-evaluate your purpose, and possibly your company’s mission. And while it won’t be easy, once you know how you can create positive change, it’s worth the investment to transform your company.

Jim Allen is a business leader and entrepreneur who has built one of the top-producing real estate groups in the Triangle. He is President of The Jim Allen Group, which is consistently named one of the top real estate teams in North Carolina and even North America.