You know what your problem is?!....

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December 19, 2024

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Have you ever been listening to a friend, a stranger, a colleague go on and on about their problems and you think to yourself, it’s so obvious what the solution is. If they would just do this other thing, right over there, they would be in the clear.

Last Friday was Friday the 13th, so naturally it got me thinking about those movies. I was always so annoyed at the complete ignorance of the group as to why they didn’t just pick up the phone and call 9-1-1 or better yet, simply leave Camp Crystal Lake! (Did they not have cars? Or phones? I can’t remember.)

Aside from the fact that leaving Crystal Lake wouldn't make for a great movie, it is psychologically easier to solve other people’s problems than your own. It’s true. The idea is rooted in several basic principles which I’ll break down briefly below.

But before I do so, If you want to know how you can be better at solving your own problems, go over here– https://recruiting-insights.kit.com/​

Here’s a breakdown:

The Observer Perspective.

When you are not emotionally invested, you don’t get mired down in the details, risks, fear, anxiety, all of which clouds our judgement.

Decision-Making Fatigue

No one has just one problem in their life, so juggling all the responsibilities and issues is mentally taxing, affecting our ability to focus clearly. An outsider is just looking at that one issue, which simplifies the process.

The Ego

Our sense of self-importance, personal identity is often threatened when we are facing problems, leading to a fearful, defensive approach. An outsider doesn’t approach the problem in this way because their ego is not wrapped up in the issue.

Behavior Patterns

We tend to frame our problems as much more complex than they actually are due to ingrained thought patterns or pessimism. To an outsider, the problem is finite and actionable. Uncomplicated. Like watching Friday the 13th: why don't they just walk out of the camp in the morning?!

What does all this psycho mumbo jumbo have to do with Recruiting? (thought you’d never ask!)

As I lean into the conversations with TA leaders and hiring managers, I am privy to all of the various steps being taken to recruit successfully:

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• where the money is being spent
• what metrics are being analyzed
• what messaging needs tweaking in the job description
• what does the post-application process look like for the job seeker

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And so often, these processes and tools have been in place since the idea of job boards were invented…which was in the early 90’s– 30 years ago! And yet, the same problems persist.

As an outsider, it seems so obvious. Stop doing the same thing expecting different results. (There’s an Einstein quote in there somewhere.)

Why are you so scared to try something new?

I read a quote in one of Sahil Bloom’s recent newsletters:

We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience. - John Dewey

Reflect on what you've done this year. If you need a recruiting sounding board, get in touch!

Happy Holidays!