Making the Shift: Leading First with Who We Are, Not What We Do

In today's frenetic, global business world, where social media makes it virtually impossible to discern where the work day ends and personal life begins, the culture of an organization and how it plays out through its leaders has never been more critical to the very core of the business and the individual. Recent research from Futurestep, the recruitment process outsourcing, professional search, and talent consulting arm of Korn Ferry, supports that tenet. In an April 2015 global survey of more than 800 business leaders, nearly half of respondents (42%) said the top attribute they look for when hiring college recruits is "fit with their culture," coming in well above "previous experience," which only 14% of respondents chose. The concept of culture is also an important recruiting tool. A March 2015 Futurestep study showed that the largest reason a Millennial would choose one job over another is visibility into the mission and vision of the organization, well above advancement opportunities and title and pay.