The JobSync Blog
Can Rules of Hospitality Help You Attract the Best Talent?
October 28, 2011
Several years ago, Danny Meyer, one of the most unique and successful restaurant entrepreneurs in New York, wrote a book titled Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business. The book became an instant classic, in part because Meyer feels the core of his success, “enlightened hospitality,” can be applied to any business. As a hiring manager, can the central principles of “enlightened hospitality” be applied to your recruiting efforts?
One of Meyer’s central principles is “The customer comes second.” At his restaurants, Meyer recognizes that unless he treats his employees well, his customers won’t be treated well. The same can be said for when candidates come to your company for an interview. Whether they’re waiting in the reception area or having additional interviews with your colleagues, if your fellow employees aren’t being treated well, a savvy candidate may sense this and it could prove discouraging.
Another principle of Meyer is “ABCD: Always Be Connecting the Dots.” He is constantly striving to find out information about his customers and actually catalogues their preferences in a database. Similarly, you should attempt to find out as much about every candidate during every phrase of recruiting and organize their details carefully for easy reference later on.
Lastly, there is what Meyer calls “The 51% Solution.” As Meyer puts it, "You can teach technical skills, but you can't train employees emotionally." When Meyer is looking for an ideal candidate, he hires someone whose strengths are a 51% emotional fit and a 49% technical fit for the job and restaurant. As a hiring manager, you may also wish to consider hiring someone with a similar balance for your open position and company.
Now that’s some food for thought!
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