Finding the right "Fit" is more difficult than you think!

We've all had it happen to us... you're trying desperately to squeeze into that favourite pair of jeans. Eventually you have to admit defeat and tell yourself that they just don't fit! Even worse is that after you do manage to close the top button and headed out for the night, you find that you are so uncomfortable that you wish you had just stayed at home in your PJ's!!

The same can be said of your career, especially when changing positions and joining a new company. If the "fit" isn't right in terms of culture or values, then you will have a general feeling of being uncomfortable and that is not conducive to your motivation or engagement.

Cultural fit is one of the biggest challenges for recruiters today, particularly when people are now more conscious that they want to enjoy what they do as much as being good at their job.

Recent research has shown that ensuring a cultural fit between the individual and the organization has a 7.9 out of 10 difficulty rating for recruiters; according to new research conducted by global talent development and transition firm Lee Hecht Harrison. - See more at: http://www.lhh.com/press-room/news/ensuring-cultural-fit-is-biggest-talent-acquisition-challenge/#sthash.CbMUwXWp.dpuf

This can go some way to explaining why the personal face to face recruitment methods like networking and personal referrals are still more popular than purely using technology and social media to job hunt. Being in a 1:1 setting will definitely give you more of a flavour of the company atmosphere, values and vision, and will help any recruiter to figure out your personality and attitudes much more easily.

Undoubtedly technology and its rapid advances will still play a part in the recruitment process, but I don't think you can ever replace that very personal touch that needs to happen in order to find the right person for a particular role.

Its important for both parties to communicate their expectations well in terms of values, vision and culture -  an informed decision can then be made about whether the individual fits the company and vice versa, and hopefully no-one is left disappointed.

Glenda Nelson is Regional Manager of LHH Penna in Northern Ireland. LHH Penna helps employees navigate change, become better leaders, develop better careers and transition into new jobs smoothly. As the world's leading integrated Talent Development and Transition company, we have the local expertise, global infrastructure, and industry-leading technology required to simplify the complexity associated with executing critical talent and workforce initiatives, reducing brand and operational risk.

Is cleanliness next to mindfulness?

I noticed recently that 7^th October is National Bathtub Day and it got me thinking about how long it’s been since I took one. Now please don’t think that I’m in any way whiffy!! It’s just that the usual routine is to jump in the shower and get out again as fast as possible in the midst of the morning rush.

A bath however, is a very different scenario. 

 

You plan it out. Running the water, picking out the bubbles, salts or fragranced oils, deciding if you want some background music, pondering whether to take a glass of wine with you and selecting what you’re going to read as you relax.

 

It’s a time thing. Bathing is a slow process and something I really should do more of!

It also got me to thinking about taking time at work to step back and clear my mind. Mindfulness in the workplace is becoming more and more popular and relevant. In the last few years it has moved away from being the preserve of hippies and bedsheet clad monks, and into the corporate world.  A growing number of businesses are recognising what mindfulness can offer, including Transport for London (TfL), Google, GlaxoSmithKline, the Home Office, the Cabinet Office, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

But what on earth is Mindfulness? Jon Kbtao ‐Zinn says that it is “Paying attention on in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally”.  In other words it is training your mind to focus attention on thoughts emotions, and body sensations simply observing them as they arise and pass away without judgment. Yoga and meditation are ideal ways to practice and you can find a lot of different plans and courses online to guide you through the process.

Benefits from its practice come in a range of psychological/cognitive ways such as:

• Reduced psychological symptoms (stress /depression / anxiety)
• Reduced emotional reactivity/enhanced behavioural regulation
• Enhanced attention and concentration skills
• Increase in emotional intelligence

In addition to all these, it helps improve your general health, which can only be a good thing?

 

I’ve also heard recently of some senior executive and managers who block out “thinking time” in their diaries, which in its own way is a form of practicing mindfulness. Taking time away from the phone and the screens that we are constantly in front of, and scheduling time to reflect on the week behind them, thinking about plans for the week to come and ruminating about how things might pan out over the coming weeks or months. This can allow quiet time to contemplate something that might have been troubling them, and coming to a considered decision.

 

But can it make you a better leader – well some of its most famous followers are Richard Branson and Ariana Huffington; A lot of brand new tech startups have a space for meditation and relaxation so there must be something in it, right?

Various studies have shown that it can reduce cortisol levels - responsible for inducing stress - and thicken grey matter in the brain, improving the ability to process information. It can also trigger the release of serotonin and endorphins, two of the cocktail of hormones that help with focus and motivation.

The problem is, where do you get the time in a working day to sit quietly by yourself and just breathe? Plus how do you convince the powers that be (unless you are one!) that it’s a good thing?

Get started on your own time: getting up 30 minutes earlier is one way. The quiet of the early morning, before everyone else starts to wake up is often a favourite of those doing Yoga or to get some quiet me-time. Once you've established if it works for you then you can suggest it for the workplace, and see how it's received!

 

Or you could run a bath….

Talk to me about becoming a more mindful leader Glenda Nelson, LHH NI glenda.nelson@lhh.com www.lhh-uk.com