Be Persistent and Work Hard

5 – Be Persistent and Work Hard: Success is a marathon, not a sprint.  Never give up.  (Investor's Business Daily's 10 Rules to Success)

 Hir ing the right executive is not a task that should happen quickly.  When it comes to finding the person with the right combination of professional and interpersonal skills to work in your organization, success is a marathon, not a sprint.    

W e have seen many companies come to us saying they need a new leader and we need them yesterday.  No one pl ans to be in such a situation where you don’t have an effective leader in place; but should you end up there, it is important to recognize the opportunity in front of you.  You have the opportunity to find a leader who can really impact the business.  Take the time and work with your internal and/or external recruiting teams to walk through the specific details that have worked and not worked in the past.  Look at your company’s goals and visions and what skills/experiences could help – experience with acquisitions, internet growth, negotiations, etc.   Meet with multiple candidates and have an effective way for your decision makers to compare and contrast.  Most of all, expect it to take at least a few months.  Even once you’ve made a hiring decision; your chosen executive will have to transition out of his role, perhaps move his family to a new city, and prepare to step into your organization. 

 S uccess is a marathon, so take the time to get the right people in place to bring you toward the finish line.