In ski jumping, it’s not good to get too far over your skis as you fly down the hill. If you do, its very likely you will crash, or at best have a clumsy landing. In my 20 + years of working with privately held companies, I’ve noticed something very interesting with entrepreneur (Visionary) led ...
In Great Britain, mind the gap is a warning phrase issued to Underground (subway) passengers, warning them to take caution while crossing the physical gap between the platform and the train. It is a warning urging people to take care and avoid injury.
In the life cycle of a business, there is no moment quite as pivotal as CEO succession. This is a huge moment, an opportunity to continue the company's upward trajectory and to bring new skills to the company. Get it right, and the results can be transformational. But, get it wrong, and your ...
Have you ever accepted a new position with an uneasy feeling about the company or culture you were entering? During the interview process, everything looked good on the surface - but you can't shake the feeling you hadn't gotten the full story.
As a retained executive recruiter in Minneapolis, I have had the great fortune to work with a number of companies hiring their first strategic human resources leader. Surprisingly, these companies have not been start-ups or small companies - all were long standing, reputable companies with over ...
During our many years of recruiting senior level talent for employee-owned companies, KeyStone Search has discovered a number of characteristics that a leader must possess to be successful in an ESOP. We've also found a few key things that simply do not work. Perhaps the most significant red flag ...
Since Rocket Fuel was released in April 2015, I have been asked numerous times what mistakes are made most often when hiring an Integrator. Without hesitation, I answer:
The biggest mistake a Visionary can make with an Integrator role is underhiring.
Getting the Necessary Horsepower
Let's use a ...
At KeyStone Search, we have the privilege to partner with great mid-sized companies with long histories of growth and success. Frequently we are introduced to these companies when they have gotten stuck - the company's growth has stalled, and they consult us to find a new Vice President of Sales to ...
We've discussed time and time again the increasing difficulty of making great hires in private companies. In a booming economy with a low unemployment rate, private companies have a difficult time attracting top talent to their companies: this is especially an issue when it comes to executive level ...
Retained executive search often seems to scare business owners - or perhaps it just confuses them. They wonder: if other recruiters only charge me if/when I hire one of their candidates, why would I ever pay a recruiting firm a retainer fee?
This is a great question. Let me answer it by making an ...
