William Vanderbloemen, founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group, shares insights about the essential human skills that set candidates apart in hiring. He discusses the evolution of executive search from church to corporate, emphasizing cultural alignment and values in the hiring process. Vanderbloemen stresses the importance of self-awareness and interpersonal skills, including storytelling and the unique strengths introverts bring to leadership. His perspective blends corporate efficiency with a heart for community-driven organizations.
The podcast emphasizes the critical importance of cultural fit in hiring processes, advocating for alignment between candidates' values and organizational missions.
William Vanderbloemen highlights the growing necessity of 'H2H' skills, such as emotional intelligence and responsiveness, in an increasingly automated workplace.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Executive Search
The podcast discusses the unique career journey of the guest, William Vanderbloemen, who transitioned from a senior pastor to the founder and CEO of a company focused on executive search for faith-based organizations. Through his experiences in both ministry and corporate human resources, he recognized inefficiencies in the conventional search procedures and sought to create a more effective approach. His comparison of the time it took to find church leadership versus corporate leaders highlighted significant gaps that motivated him to innovate in the executive search industry. This led to the establishment of a new niche that emphasizes understanding people and culture, which resulted in thousands of successful placements in various organizations.
Challenging Corporate Norms
The conversation emphasizes the need to question traditional corporate practices, such as the effectiveness of performance reviews and the assumptions surrounding hiring processes. Vanderbloemen shares insights gained from his experiences, particularly the importance of evaluating a candidate's cultural fit instead of relying solely on credentials or pedigree. He critiques how companies often miss out on potential talent by focusing too heavily on resumes and titles, advocating for a deeper understanding of a candidate’s alignment with the organization’s values and mission. His approach encourages leaders to rethink their criteria for success, moving beyond outdated benchmarks to foster more diverse and effective teams.
The Importance of Culture in Hiring
A significant focus of the podcast is the concept of organizational culture and its vital role in hiring and leadership effectiveness. Vanderbloemen discusses how cultural values shape how teams function and highlights the need for organizations to define their unique cultural behaviors. He explains that culture isn’t just about casual interactions but is foundational to achieving a company's mission effectively. This aligns with his findings that strong cultural fit and shared values between employees and the organization lead to greater success, especially in navigating the evolving workplace landscape.
Developing Human-to-Human Skills
Vanderbloemen introduces the notion of 'H2H' skills, emphasizing that as automation increases, emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills become essential for workplace success. He identifies twelve habits shared by extraordinarily effective individuals, which revolve around how they treat others and build relationships. One standout habit is responsiveness; timely communication can significantly enhance engagement and relationship-building. Furthermore, the discussion underscores how self-awareness is critical for leaders and candidates alike, as understanding one's strengths and weaknesses is pivotal in fostering genuine collaboration and growth within teams.
William Vanderbloemen, founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group, joins Patty and Jessica this week to talk all about the soft skills that make you the most desirable candidate in the room. They also delve into the importance of culture in hiring, the evolution of executive search, and the significance of values in nonprofit leadership.
Find out more about William, and his book Be The Unicorn here.
Do you have an ongoing work issue you need guidance solving? Or maybe you want to know how Patty and Jess would have dealt with a past problem. Share your stories and questions with our producers here.
TruthWorks is hosted by Jessica Neal and Patty McCord. The show is edited, mixed and produced by Megan Hayward. Our Production Manager is Kathleen Speckert. TruthWorks is an editaudio production.
