Does This Description Fit Your Boss?

Over the past 20+ years, as recruiters focused on the Nashville Metropolitan area, we’ve had over 20,000 candid talks with white-collar professional candidates, from early career to the C-suite. So we’ve had a virtual front row seat to what attracts people to companies, what makes them stay - and what makes them hit the eject button.

Recently a high performing job candidate with a well-known local company explained that he loved what he did and was proud of his team’s accomplishments, but he just had to move on. He went on to explain that new investors had inserted one of their crony insiders into his (already) high growth company and, since his arrival, the new person had proven to be a one-man wrecking ball to a large part of the company’s positive culture, morale and productivity.

The irony, he explained, was that this person directed most of his rudeness at high achievers in his department – across the ranks – so this wasn’t someone who was simply displaying frustration towards poor performers.

Hardly a week goes by without hearing of a bully (jerk) boss. What they don't realize is that, if they view high performers as a threat to their own career aspirations and competition for resources and attention, they just may end up chasing off the very best talent.

As recruiters, we're thankful to “Nashville’s Jerk Bosses” as their behavior allows us to target and easily pluck their very best talent - and place them in far more hospitable environments.

If you're the head of a company – step out of your corner office and actively model the behavior you want to see in others. Your culture can't be managed through carefully placed plaques on the wall but, instead, by putting an end to social dominance - and through creating incentives and recognition systems that reward leaders for developing (rather than undermining) high-performers. Rather than feeling threatened by high performers, your executive team - and all managers below them - should be incentivized to protect, support, and promote their stars.?

Remember, your greatest assets go home to their families each night. If you want them to keep returning, throw the jerks out - now. Otherwise (fair warning), a recruiter is going to redirect your assets to your competitors’ front door.

______________________________________________________________

Are you an employer looking for great Nashville-area talent???-?Give us a shout. We represent Nashville’s top candidates – from early career to C-level executives, regardless of vocation or industry?– and we only charge employers a one-time 9.9% placement fee. There are no other fees. We also provide a 6-month replacement guarantee.??[email protected]

Are you a job candidate looking to make a job or career change??- Let’s talk. Just send us a message to schedule a confidential phone call, so we can learn more about you. Note: We don’t charge candidates for our placement services.??[email protected]

Need advice about your resume or career??- Contact us to schedule a confidential 20-minute phone call. Our advice is completely free.??[email protected]