ResearchGoddess

I’ve been quiet for the past week or so – highly unlike me! Those of you who know me personally know that there’s been a lot going on, with a lot more in store! In the coming days, I have travel, a new residence to move to, and……well, just stay tuned for the updates. I will most likely have some information around the time of SourceCon! Thanks for being patient with me!

Recently, I interviewed Adam Kovitz, Executive Director of the RNIA (Relationship Networking Industry Association) in a special Goddess Episode of Jim Stroud’s The Recruiters Lounge. Check it out here!

I was looking for a birthday card for a friend of mine who is turning 28 this Wednesday. We have known each other for 25 years. I found the perfect card for her. It says:

“Happiness is found not in the things we collect, but in the connections we keep.”

This applies for our networks as well…sometimes quality surpasses quantity.

Carmine Coyote has quickly become a favorite read of mine. I don’t even remember where I found this blog, Slow Leadership, but there are so many good nuggets of information that are presented in each article.

One in particular caught my attention this morning due to my interest in addressing some of the misconceptions that exist within the research community. The misconception is that ALL researchers should also be candidate qualifiers (i.e. SOURCERS). My argument is that you can, in fact, specialize in internet research and not be a candidate qualifier. Some people would argue that to do research, your job description must also include pre-qualifying candidates, thus having contact with them. I was talking with my sister-in-law (who used to be a recruiter) recently about this, and her response to that scenario was, “Isn’t that what a recruiter is supposed to do? That’s what my job was when I recruited – why have a researcher do it when they’re probably better at researching anyhow?”

Now, I am not here to argue for or against sourcing. Each situation is unique, and some call for internet research only while others need a person who sources and reaches out to pre-qualify candidates. What I am going to point out here is what I read halfway through Carmine’s latest post, Teaching eagles to run:

“…Running eagles
The next step in the farce is taken by those in charge of training. Armed with the competency lists, plus the fantasies peddled by gurus and consultants, they proceed to attempt to ‘teach’ people how to fit the required patterns.
Eagles are given running lessons and told flying is “not what is required” and “not the mark of a good team-player.” Fish are exhorted to grow legs and take up mountaineering. Lions are told to eat grass and mice are exhorted to become “lean, mean flying machines.”
It would all be funny, if people’s jobs and livelihoods weren’t dependent on appearing to go along with this nonsense…”

The idea that is being conveyed here is that not everyone excels in the same areas – so why ask someone in your organization to do something that they clearly are not good at when you have someone else there who is – unless they have specifically requested to develop that weak skill? Let researchers who are good at internet research do just that, and let the people who are good on the phones (the recruiters) be on the phones.

The contests are over! The SourceCon Grand Master Sourcing Challenge line-up has been established. Congratulations to the winners:

I think this is a ‘motley crue’ I am certainly interested to see their skills demonstrated live during the Grand Master Sourcing challenge. Each of them have already won a free pass to SourceCon 2007. In addition, the best of the three will win:

• a new laptop loaded with sourcing tools and goodies for research, AND….
• a complimentary pass to SourceCon 2008 to defend their title as the Grand Master Sourcer

If you have not registered for SourceCon yet, you should! Use the promotional code ABH0730 and receive a 10% discount off the cost of your ticket.

See you in Atlanta!