By | Published On: November 11, 2021 |

Welcome to episode 57 of my podcast, The Executive Edge with Jennifer Thornton www.304coaching.com

Jen is an expert in talent strategy. With a background in H.R. her company 304coaching has achieved considerable success helping companies understand about peak performance.

Often companies grow quickly but is that a good thing, and do we know how to hire the right people as we grow?

What does Jen think?

In this episode she refers to something she calls the ‘talent cliff’ and I asked her where that had come from. It’s really about how we are wired with the future in mind all the time, and our decisions are often based on what will happen then. We plan and put together strategies on that basis, but the difficulty is holding on to our talented staff so that they stay with us and grow alongside. Neglecting them she feels, however accidentally, can lead to the loss of members of our ‘A’ team who have helped us get where we are in the first place. It can really help to encourage a learning culture so that everyone feels nurtured and has the potential to develop at a rate and pace they can manage.

Do Leaders have to get everything right?

Jen and I both work regularly with Executives but I wondered if telling them they need to engender a learning environment, enable people to develop a positive culture, and play to their strengths, would put a lot of pressure on them. Jen feels the leader isn’t the only person who ‘has a role in the show’. All employees need to build self-awareness so that they ask for help, avoid burn out and understand how they tick.

Success in business isn’t then down to one person but down to a team who gel well together and communicate regularly.

We also discussed the role brain chemistry has in much of our behaviour, exploring how dopamine ‘hits’, often influence how much we want to win and get things right. Being aware of what we’re thinking and doing enables us to make good choices and start the day with a success mindset. Instead, many of us are wired for fear and don’t realise how much this affects both our mood, behaviour, and achievements.