In honor of Memorial Day Weekend, we’re in your inbox a bit earlier this Friday! As many of us gear up to take a breather, soak up the sun, hit the pool, and enjoy a backyard barbecue with loved ones, this break in our schedules got us thinking about routines. More specifically, when it makes sense to break them.
The rise of the morning routine has taken the world by storm. The viral 4 am wake-up is just one example of how people are trying to out-optimize each other and avoid missing opportunities before the day starts for most.
But here’s the catch. Sometimes the best opportunities come out of breaking routine.
Imagine, instead of your weekly trip to the grocery store, you shop at the farmers’ market. It takes longer to find what you want. Options may be limited. It’s more expensive and crowded. But it also forces you to slow down and consider options you may not have otherwise entertained. It invites discovery, most likely of something unexpected that you didn’t even know you were looking for.
We see this play out all the time in hiring.
Most organizations follow a familiar formula when growing their team. They post to the same job boards, attend scheduled hiring events, and run referral contests, all tapping the usual networks. These methods are reliable, garnering success a majority of the time. But sticking rigidly to your usual methods, especially in today’s market, may cause you to miss opportunities. The reality is, your next best hire won’t always show up in predictable or traditional places.
We’re not suggesting you throw your routine out the window – systems drive efficiency and results, that’s why we implement them at Spherion. But don’t be afraid to weave in the inefficient, unconventional, or unexpected… swap the grocery store for the farmers’ market every once in a while and be open to what you may stumble upon.
Until next time,
Your Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL team