Day 4: Listening.
We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. It’s likely not the first time you’ve read that, but let it soak in. The stories today reminded me of this, because I’m so proud of our team for listening to the truth in the silence, building space for trusted dialogue and for listening more than speaking. In any role, it’s easy to think “I’ve heard that before” or “Yeah I’ve been told that” and put someone in a box. It’s a learned skill to listen with fresh ears and compassion each and every time…
- James after a week in position quit. Upon further discussion we learned he was operating a stand up forklift but felt most confident on a sit down – and even further, he was concerned for safety. In follow up calls and conversations with him about his assignment we learned this and were able to effect change that worked for everyone. Recently James was recognized for his work ethic and being a stand out employee 😊
- We met Mark and had nothing for him for several months. Everyone on our team knew about Mark! He was serious about a career change – we knew that because we learned he was planning some big life changes (engagement, moving), we also learned he was being thoughtful about the culture and environment he wanted. With 8 years of experience at Dominos, he had a lot to offer but it also required a bit of listening to understand what skills he had obtained and where he saw them translating. Finally the right Direct Hire position opened up – he was perfect. The client was apprehensive and interviewed him multiple times but eventually made an offer! When they offered, he said he needed to call his recruiter before accepting – gosh, Mark felt heard and it filled my heart to witness it ❤ (He’s still there, over the moon happy)
- Ron was referred to us, and new to agency work. He was eager to be hired perm at the completion of his hours but the client wasn’t hiring him because they work on their own timing. He stands out because of the hours and hours spent on the phone validating his concerns and exploring solutions together.
- Stacy was particular about what and where she wanted to work, and upon exploring opportunities and her saying no we eventually learned her reluctance was because she uses THC with a medical prescription. Once we learned that we understood the hesitation and were able to help her find a great spot – she’s a shining star, often recognized and all of it possible by creating a space to hear her out.
See you tomorrow,
Heather
Great stories of helping others