Business is improving, but now I’m dealing with all kinds of conflict with my recruiters. They have become extremely territorial and I’m beginning to feel like a referee in my own business. I’m still the top producer in my firm and can’t afford all the time and energy this is taking away from my desk. Do I just fire these senior prima donnas and start from scratch?
Judy J., Colorado Springs, CO
You need to do what is in the best interest of your company. Conflict is frustrating but many of the issues can be avoided by the existence of a Company Policy Manual. Obviously, some problem areas such as derogatory comments about a co-worker, dishonesty, and unfair screening of candidates are not solved by a Policy Manual.
In order for you to handle conflict you must have a reputation for being fair, consistent, and totally objective. If these characteristics do not describe you, then these are areas you need to improve.
In any type of conflict the ultimate goal is to orchestrate a win/win solution. Unfortunately, this is not always possible and concessions must be made. You must remove the personalities involved in the conflict and reach your decision based on the facts presented.
If a conflict arises that is covered by the Policy Manual, you must always follow those guidelines in your decision-making process. Consistency in your decisions can greatly enhance the level of respect you will earn with your employees. There are several sections that should be included in your Policy Manual. Again, this must be customized to the disciplines, specialties, size, and company culture of your recruiting and staffing firm.
It’s important for you to realize you can’t prevent or control what happens. But you do have 100% control over how you choose to react. Both parties involved in the issue also have the same opportunity… they can choose how they react! This is a skill that all recruiters and managers in our profession need to MASTER!
Would you like to Ask Barb a question? Email her at support@staffingandrecruiting.com. Each month in The Fordyce Letter print edition, Barbara Bruno answers questions from individuals in the Recruiting Profession. We will bring you some of these Q&A responses from Barb each week on FordyceLetter.com.