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This blog was originally posted on LinkedIn.
The world of nonprofit executive recruitment is challenging and demands a unique blend of skills and abilities. In my experience, successful nonprofit recruiters embody the characteristics of two seemingly unrelated professions: the chef and the therapist. By understanding and adopting the approaches used by these experts, nonprofit recruiters can craft a well-rounded strategy that leads to the perfect candidate match.
The Chef: Cooking Up Success
Think of a chef in the kitchen, carefully following a recipe to create a delicious meal. That’s how a nonprofit executive recruiter should approach their work. Here’s the recipe for success:
- Ingredients: Each search needs the right mix of skills, experience, and attributes to find the ideal leader for a nonprofit. It’s up to the recruiter to figure out what these ingredients are.
- Customization: Just like a chef tweaks a recipe, a recruiter must adapt the search process for each unique organization.
- Repetition: Chefs get better with practice, and so do recruiters. With more experience, recruiters can fine-tune their approach and better serve their clients.
The Therapist: Listening and Learning
Now, imagine sitting down with a therapist who listens intently and helps you find answers within yourself. That’s another skill nonprofit recruiters should have. Here’s how they can be more like therapists:
- Open-mindedness: A good therapist doesn’t have all the answers, and neither should a recruiter. Being open to new ideas and perspectives is key.
- Active Listening: Like therapists, recruiters need to be great listeners, truly understanding their clients’ needs and aspirations.
- Frameworks: Therapists use frameworks to help clients solve problems. Nonprofit recruiters should do the same, creating a systematic approach to guide their search.
By blending the chef’s process-driven approach with the therapist’s empathetic listening skills, nonprofit recruiters can create a powerful strategy for finding top talent. By constantly refining these skills and adapting to each client’s needs, recruiters can help nonprofits make a real difference in the world.
Here are some questions to think about:
- As a recruiter, which approach do you naturally lean towards: the chef or the therapist? How can you work on developing the other side?
- As a client, which approach resonates more with you? How can you communicate your preferences to your recruiter to ensure a successful partnership?
Remember, finding the right balance between the chef and therapist approaches is the key to successful nonprofit executive recruitment.
Omar Lopez, Senior Talent Consultant
