Episode #510: Leading Imperfect People

 
I prefer to lead high-performing individuals, capable, and driven people. But this luxury frequently comes with a high price tag, which large firms can afford because of their substantial financial resources and well-known brands. The financial trade-off between hiring someone who might not yield immediate returns and the expenses of acquiring and training new employees is a recurring problem for small to medium-sized businesses. Japan is a prime example of the growing difficulty in finding qualified personnel due to its declining population. Due to the dire necessity for staff, compromises are made as the pool of potential hiring shrinks, accepting imperfect—even idiotic—candidates.

The repercussions of compromised hiring were recently brought to light by an event at an Italian pizza in Tokyo, when a waiter's careless behaviour endangered a long-standing customer relationship. It is necessary to reevaluate the old onboarding procedure in light of this changing environment. Micromanagement becomes a necessary evil to monitor and rectify behaviour, rather than concentrating just on systems and procedures—especially considering the unpredictable nature of idiocy. To protect their brand's reputation and customer relationships, leaders need to adjust to the reality of imperfect recruits. This requires a mental change and active staff management.