Eagle or Ostrich?

This is a defining time for Recruiting Leadership around the world.  Whether the profession advances in this difficult environment or recedes is dependent upon the decisions being made today at Sr. level meetings in conference rooms across the globe.  These game changing decisions rely on a single personality trait to determine if they advance our profession or drive it deeper into an organization’s basement.

I’m talking about COURAGE - that rare, defining aspect of some people’s personality that allows them to make difficult decisions and advance an industry while their peers sit on their hands.

With the economy stalled at best, VPs of Recruiting are facing a myriad of decisions; reduction of budgets, laying off of contract Recruiters and even some full time staff to accommodate reduction in work (some companies are experiencing 75% fewer openings than this time last year).  Most are spending late hours worrying about their own positions and future in the industry.  Add bankruptcies, foreclosures and mergers and the world can seem like a very precarious place from where they sit.

Typically I’ve witnessed two reactions to this scenario.  In 2001-2002 there was a micro 2009 in the dot.com industry – companies failed, companies merged and most of my contacts in the industry got out and into other professions.  The few that remained took one of the two paths I’m referencing;

The Ostrich Path – put your head down, do your job, don’t ask questions, don’t rock the boat, refuse any ideas that are not “safe” or traditional and teach your whole department to do the same.  Oh yea, and fire anyone who refuses to comply with the “head in the sand” mentality.  OR;

The Eagle Path - recognize the opportunity in front of you and seize the moment; innovate, challenge the status quo, research new and different business practices to make your department stronger, more respectable in the organization and a valued thought leader in the industry.

Today in my role outside of a corporate recruiting department I see these two paths daily.  I had a meeting last week with an SVP of Recruiting at a Fortune 10 company.  After an hour conversation this person was eager to hear more about what we are doing (innovation) and how we can help him advance his organization.  Clearly an “EAGLE PATH” Leader.  No fear, no excuses, no reasons for being too busy to talk – just an Eagle.  Unfortunately, this is the exception to the rule.  We see many more Ostriches than Eagles these days.  So many of this Eagle’s peers are scrambling to make sense of their world, cover their butts and keep the peace that they can’t see the forest for the trees.  I feel for these folks – it must be disheartening to find reasons NOT to do great things and then find out that people around you are.  It must be tough dinner conversation to explain to your spouse “I kept my head above water today, I didn’t ruffle any feathers and my badge should work tomorrow when I go back to do it all over again”. 

These are challenging times but in any conflict lies opportunity.  In order to see this you have to have the right perspective and vision.  From an Eagle’s point of view – it is easy to see the opportunity, swoop in and take advantage of it.  From the Ostrich’s point of view – the view never changes, its just sand.