3 Tips for Using Open-Book Management to Attract and Retain A Players

Attracting and retaining top talent is the #1 challenge most businesses face in today's competitive marketplace.  Organizations that practice OBM (open-book management) have a major competitive edge that they should use to their advantage in all recruiting efforts.  

Here are 3 tips for leveraging your investment in open-book management to attract and retain A Players:

1. Feature OBM in all your recruiting efforts- Having a chance to make a difference and be part of something bigger than oneself is often a motivating factor for job seekers. While compensation is always important, having the ability to impact the future results of an organization and then share in that success is a very attractive benefit.  You should be highlighting your OBM culture in every post, job ad and recruiting effort to maximize the exposure to potential employees.
2. Make OBM part of your interviewing process- When you are going through your interview process for potential new employees, ask them what they know about open-book management and why it would be important for them to join an organization that practices it. This will eliminate any assumptions either party has and it will open doors to new lines of questions for the interview process. For candidates that are passionate about making a difference, OBM can increase appeal to A players. 
3. Culture counts. Involve your team- We know that company culture is essential to draw in candidates, but we often forget that it’s just as important in weeding them out. Take time to share details about your company culture and involve as many people from your organization as is practical. You don’t just want candidates that have the appropriate experience, you want team players that are aligned with your company way and great employees that stay for the long haul. A Players know and attract other A Players.   Like Jack says, it’s pretty easy to stop one guy, but it’s pretty hard to stop 100!

Your people fuel your business, so finding the right fit should not be taken lightly. Make OBM the center of all your recruiting efforts and involve as many members of the team as possible.  People support what they help create, so get feedback as you create or modify positions within the company and recruit to fill them.  You’ll be well on your way to building that A Player team!

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