How Dating Can Make You a Better Hiring Manager

(Or When Opposites Attract…!)

You're the Executive Director of a nonprofit. You need to hire a fundraising professional; statistics say…

• You are more than likely a white female.

• You were probably interviewed and hired by a board member of the same gender.

• Your staff is probably composed of other young white women.

• You fired the last fundraiser, or they left on or about the 2 year mark.

• She too, was probably a white female.

We all know Einstein’s “definition of insanity” is to keep doing the same thing and expect different results. You've been dating/hiring the same person over and over, and insanely believing this time will be different.

Completely unconsciously, you pick a background and resume that with laser focus, reveals your next “perfect candidate”. You interview, hire her and again, you've managed to select someone who:

1. Looks just like you

2. Shares a common background

3. Belongs to the same societal network

4. Thinks just like you

5. Whose skill set mirrors yours

6. Fits into your “culture” like a glove

7. But sadly, yet again, you fire her or she leaves on or about the 2 year mark.

If this were your dating history, right about now you'd say to yourself, it’s time to do something different. You've always dated “white collar”; perhaps it’s time to look at a “blue collar” guy, maybe even an entrepreneur. Dated tall, dark and dangerous? Time to consider that shy, but authentic guy, who might end up being the man (or hire) of your dreams!

Of course there’s a comfort level in hiring “the safe bet”; but why not consider hiring a Latino man, a Black woman, a Vet, an Asian man, or (heavens!) an LGBT candidate? Why not widen the lens, “open the aperture” and discover the marvelous, diversity of talent that heretofore ended up in your “round file”? There’s a vast revenue stream your young white female will probably never approach, or tap.

Chances are, that my Dad who died at 90, and was forced to drink from “colored only” fountains, would never have been identified, cultivated or stewarded by your previous hires; but this high school guidance counselor donated thousands of greenbacks to missions that were important to him.

And really, isn't green the only color you, as a hiring manager, should be considering in a fundraiser?

#hiring #talentacquisition #development #fundrasing