Swallow the Biggest Frog First
It is very easy to procrastinate or switch gears continually when you are in a profession that deals with people. When I suggest you "swallow the biggest frog first," I'm merely suggesting that you do the toughest thing on your desk - first! I actually used to pass out tiny frogs at some of my sessions as a reminder not to procrastinate, until someone approached me and said, "Barb, you're like the legendary frog lady." That's not the legacy I'm trying to establish.
It's not easy telling someone they did not get the job, or telling a hiring authority that your candidate accepted a counter-offer. It's difficult when your decision maker decides to low ball an offer or your candidate increases their salary demands.
When you have something on your mind that you have not dealt with, it prevents you from attaining peak performance. You are anticipating what you have to do or say and it affects you until you deal with the toughest thing you have to face.
Members of my own sales team have tried to convince themselves that it's better not to reveal bad news to a candidate on Friday and ruin their weekend. So the answer is to slam them on Monday, after they've spent all weekend telling all their friends and family about the great job they have pending? It's smart to confirm that the candidate who was selected has actually accepted the position before informing your other candidates. However, the minute you have the confirmation, you need to inform those not chosen.
One more tip. When you are calling with bad news, don't small talk at the beginning of the call because you are nervous. Start out your call with the word "unfortunately" or "I'm sorry to inform you" so your candidate knows they are not getting good news.
If you were the candidate or client, you would appreciate being informed. You need to provide that same courtesy to the candidates and clients you represent.
Recently, a member of one of my audiences sent me the following story about some other "frogs" that I'd like to share.
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants.
The race began...
Honestly... no one in the crowd really believed that any of the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You could hear people shouting:
"Oh, this is WAY too difficult"
"They will NEVER make it to the top"
"Not a chance that they will succeed"
"The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing, one by one. Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher. The crowd was yelling louder and louder, "It's too difficult!!" "No one will every make it!!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up... But one continued higher and higher and higher...
This one would not give up.
At the end, every frog had given up climbing the tower, except for the one tiny frog, who, after a big effort, was the only one that reached the top!
All of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it? A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal.
It turned out ... that winning frog was DEAF!
If you handle the most difficult task each day first and become deaf to the "dream stealers" in your life you will attain higher levels of success than you ever thought possible!
Article by, Barbara Bruno and courtesy of Kenndy Information Recruiting Trends providing leading edge insights and strategies for the recruiting professional
Nice blog. I liked it very much, and it's true also