Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol.
Today’s Tip is for all my friends in public safety, and it has to do with being a recruiter on every shift.
Recruiting has its ups and downs. Sometimes we’ve got an applicant pool, and sometimes we have an applicant puddle. If you’ve heard me talk on this topic before, you know I’m a firm believer that we don’t need to lower standards to find good people for our agencies. But, to identify and recruit these good people, we need everyone on every shift to be a recruiter.
What do these good people look like? They are smart, they’re responsible, and they have integrity. They use good judgment, demonstrate good problem-solving skills, and can carry on a good conversation. Where do we find these people? Well folks, we come across them on any given day, and on any given shift.
But there’s more to effective recruiting than what you say to someone. The image you present while on the job speaks volumes about your organization and your profession. Do you look sharp in your uniform? Are you conducting yourself professionally? Do you mirror the professional qualities we look for in potential recruits?
Leaders also play an essential role in recruiting by building organizations that people want to belong to. Supervisors, do your employees know what is expected of them and have adequate resources to do their jobs? Managers, are you recognizing employees for their great work and providing opportunities for professional development? And executives, are you setting the proper vision for your organization and showing your employees you care about them?
Practicing these things can help develop deep pools of diverse, high-quality applicants. Remember, the future of your organization depends on finding and keeping these good people!
And that is Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
