Hiring today: think “Swiss Army knife”

Imagine having a single item in your possession that includes 33 useful tools right there in your pocket. Tools to manage many of the everyday jobs you encounter. You might say the value of this one single tool outshines much of your tool box. Well, there is a tool like the one described above: the Swiss Army knife. This amazing product was first produced in 1891. Designed and contracted through the Swiss military, this knife has gone through many changes over the 100+ years it has been in use. It is an amazing product, with a worldwide reputation for quality and functionality. 

As I was researching the Swiss Army knife, I thought about the kind of team members a golf club should have in this new world of work. The idea of having people on the team that can move around with ease, providing a high level of service with quality results, no matter the department, can be an extraordinary win for the property and for leadership. In this very complex time, where many employees have one set of desires for their work life while their employers have a set of needs that just may not align, many a workday can become a challenge.

There are many people in the workforce, each with their own unique needs and wants. As you look at your property, the complexity, and the variety of roles, wouldn’t it be great to have two or three people on your team that can act with the same flexibility and quality as that Swiss Army knife? People that, without angst or stress, pitch in and do meaningful work in several areas of the business? The more we read about the modern world of work, the more we see flexibility as a critical asset of value. Creating a mini team positioned to adjust in the moment will take great stress away from you while providing confidence and direction to all when things go sideways. In this In My Opinion post, here are three thoughts on flexible talent:

It takes time: Finding and training a few people who are able and willing to adjust in the moment is a big wish. It is, however, a smart idea in this ever more complex world of work. Although these employees do not need to be superstars in every discipline, they will need enough knowledge to jump into any department and become an asset in the moment. It will take patience, training, and flexibility on your part to find, develop, and especially retain these special men and women.

Allow them to grow: Although finding and developing these people will create amazing value, it is essential never to hold them back….