Insights from 'Make Your Bed'"
You may have seen the video or read the book "Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World", by Admiral William H. McRaven
It’s an excellent speech that provides insight into building teams and leading a more positive life.
How might you apply this to Executive Search / Recruitment and how does it translate to seeking out top talent for your clients?
Executive Recruitment involves drawing parallels between the book's principles and the qualities, behaviours, and attitudes essential in successful executives. Here's how each point can be applied:
1. Start Your Day with a Task Completed: In executive recruitment, this translates to valuing candidates who demonstrate discipline and attention to detail. Such individuals are likely to bring the same level of diligence to their professional roles.
2. You Can’t Go It Alone: Teamwork is critical in leadership positions. A good executive should be able to build, manage, and rely on a team, fostering a collaborative environment.
3. Only the Size of Your Heart Matters: Executive roles often require resilience and passion more than just technical skills. Recruiters should look for candidates with determination and a strong commitment to organizational goals. This can also be reflected by their achievements and personal interests or hobbies.
4. Life’s Not Fair—Drive On! Executives often face unexpected challenges and unfair situations. Candidates who can navigate these with a positive attitude and a focus on solutions are valuable. Especially when it comes to the current economic climate, there will be many challenges ahead with an increasingly diverse workforce.
5. Failure Can Make You Stronger: A candidate’s history of overcoming failures and learning from them can be a strong indicator of their resilience and ability to adapt. This is a key quality for executive roles, where risk management is crucial. Varied experience or different roles in the same company, or variety of industries or geographic locations are also indicators of adaptability and learning.
6. Dare Greatly: Executives need to be innovative and willing to take calculated risks. Candidates who demonstrate boldness and a track record of innovative thinking are often suited for leadership roles. Critical for the increasing demand for Tech knowledge, change and AI.
7. Stand Up to the Bullies: Integrity and the ability to stand up for what is right are important in leadership. Candidates should be assessed for their ethical standards and courage to confront unethical behaviour.
8. Rise to the Occasion: Executives often need to perform under pressure. Look for candidates who have demonstrated the ability to excel in high-stress situations. Keeping a cool head when others are losing theirs is a reflection of an individual that people may prefer working for.
9. Give People Hope: An executive should be a source of inspiration and motivation for their team. Candidates who inspire confidence and have a positive impact on their teams are highly desirable. Investing in peoples learning and development, as well as their own would be one important factor to look out for.
10. Never, Ever Quit: Perseverance is key in leadership. Candidates should exhibit a strong commitment to their goals and an unwillingness to give up in the face of adversity.
In summary, the principles from "Make Your Bed" align closely with the attributes needed in successful executives. Executive recruitment should focus on identifying candidates who not only have the necessary skills and experience but also exhibit these character traits and leadership qualities.
"Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World" is a book by Admiral William H. McRaven
For more insights into Executive recruitment and strategic hiring reach out to me at
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