How to Use Storytelling to Recruit the Best Talent
When I was first starting ArmaniTalks, I barely had any money.
I was reinvesting all my money to create more content.
- Hiring narrators.
- Converting my manuscripts to Kindle and Paperback format.
- Hiring cover designers.
It was tough.
You know what they say though.
You need to spend money to make money.
But I had nothing to spend.
There was one day, I was working with this top-tier talent.
He was a Swiss army knife.
He knew how to convert images, create images, and format my books.
The only problem was that I was struggling to pay him.
One day, he asked me if I needed more help.
I did.
But I told him I couldn’t pay him as much, so we had to reduce our workload.
He said:
‘We can keep the same workload. I’ll give you more discounts. I see what you’re doing. You’re building a brand, and I’m here with you for the long run…’
What I Learned from That Moment
This gentleman was from overseas.
He gave discounts in the initial stages and was always on time.
Most importantly, he understood the mission of ArmaniTalks.
The purpose of ArmaniTalks was to help engineers and entrepreneurs improve their soft skills.
This gentleman knew that ArmaniTalks was not about making a quick buck on the internet.
I was here for life.
He knew what I was about after he saw my portfolio.
When he believed in my work ethic, he believed in me.
After that, I successfully recruited this top-tier talent to my side.
Funny thing?
I never tried recruiting him.
He just believed my story, and that was all it took.
How to Recruit the Right Way
To find the right way to recruit, you need to know which type of business you are.
If you’re a successful business, then you need to focus on the benefits and the logistics.
- How much will the talent get paid, healthcare benefits, and work-life balance.
But when you’re an unsuccessful business, you don’t have the logistics to offer.
That’s when storytelling becomes king.
What I noticed is that businesses do the opposite.
Successful businesses try to sell their story, while unsuccessful businesses try to sell the logistics.
Both end up failing.
Here’s why…
Top-tier talent does not come to an already successful business to hear its story.
It just sounds like a bunch of suits saying corporate speak.
These people just want the benefits!
They know this company is established and has the funds to woo them.
Unsuccessful business are like startups.
They are losing money, and are in the red for a long time.
They don’t have the ability to shell out so much money to future employees.
So, what do they do?
They offer a bright future.
When they are unable to sell their future, they try to compete on the benefits game and they shoot themselves in the foot.
The gentleman who gave me discounts knew ArmaniTalks was in the beginning stages when he found me.
However, he saw how prolific I was.
After he saw the gargantuan catalog that I built in 2 years, he projected himself into the future.
Was ArmaniTalks going to be successful or not?
He had no clue.
He was willing to take a bet though.
He bet on ArmaniTalks’s future, rather than the present.
If I was trying to recruit him through logistics:
- Hey, I will pay you this much.
- I’ll give you this deal.
- I’ll give you this work life balance.
Then I would have been lying.
I didn’t have anything like that to give him.
All I had to give him was my potential.
How to Recruit with Stories
When Facebook started, how did you think they stole a lot of talent from Google?
Do you think they recruited through logistics?
Nah.
They had a simple mantra:
‘Our goal is to connect the world. Do you want to be a part of that or not?’
How to recruit with storytelling:
- Describe what you do.
- Extend an invite.
ArmaniTalks teaches engineers and entrepreneurs communication skills through short stories.
- Want to be a part of it?
Google is destined to be the hub of human knowledge.
- Want to be a part of it?
Facebook’s goal is to connect the world.
- Want to be a part of it?
When you describe what you do, and extend and invite, you engage the talent’s heart.
Let Them Reach the Decision
A lot of people will immediately be wooed.
For others, you need to wait.
When you get their heart on your side, that’s when they begin gearing their logic to your favor.
Steve Jobs was trying to recruit John Sculley to Apple.
Before, Sculley was in charge of Pepsi.
Steve Jobs gave a simple offer.
‘Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to change the world?’
Look closely at what he asked…
He followed the 2-step format:
- He describes what he was destined to do.
- Change the world.
- He extended an invite for Sculley to join.
Sculley’s emotions were gripped with changing the world.
Now selling sugar water seemed like a silly concept.
The Power of Storytelling
Understand what type of business you’re in.
If you’re a Fortune 500 company, a lot of talented folks don’t care much about your story.
If they do, that’s a rare occurrence.
But for the most part, they are just trying to get their bread!
If you’re a startup company, then people are more empathetic.
They think:
‘Tell me more.’
The fact that they are showing interest in your company speaks volumes.
They could’ve clearly ignored you.
However, destiny was on your side.
They were meant to find you.
Be honest.
Share what you do.
Then ask if they want to join.
They will be intrigued by the offer.
Let them sit on the idea.
Let it marinate.
For more insights into storytelling, check out the Art & Science of Storytelling Book.
✨Ebook
✨Paperback/Kindle
✨Audiobook
