--- title: The Executive Brief Blog | Executive Search description: Executive Search | --- [![kystone](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/Keystone%20Executive%20Search%20/Keystone_exec_search_logo@2x.svg)](http://www.keystonesearch.com/) # Category Archive Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as **“executive-search”** [![Giving Human Resources a Seat at the Table](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_business_people_group_on_meeting_at_modern_bright_office_indoors_senior__businessman_as_leader_in_discussion.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/giving-human-resources-a-seat-at-the-table) ## [Giving Human Resources a Seat at the Table](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/giving-human-resources-a-seat-at-the-table) 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](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/retained-vs.-contingent-decoding-the-world-of-executive-search). Surprisingly, these companies have not been start-ups or small companies - all were long standing, reputable companies with over ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/giving-human-resources-a-seat-at-the-table) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Hiring](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/hiring) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [Strategy](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/strategy) [Human Resources](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/human-resources) [![Egos and ESOPs - Like Oil and Water](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_business_people_group_on_meeting_and_presentation__in_bright_modern_office_with_construction_engineer_architect_and_worker_looking_building_model_and_blueprint_planbleprint_plans.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/egos-and-esops-like-oil-and-water) ## [Egos and ESOPs - Like Oil and Water](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/egos-and-esops-like-oil-and-water) During our many years of [recruiting senior level talent for employee-owned companies](http://www.keystonesearch.com/esop), KeyStone Search has discovered [a number of characteristics that a leader must possess to be successful in an ESOP](https://explore.keystonesearch.com/get-your-esop-search-pack). We've also found a few key things that simply **do not** work. Perhaps the most significant red flag ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/egos-and-esops-like-oil-and-water) [Culture](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/culture) [ESOP](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/esop) [Evaluation](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/evaluation) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [![Why Retained Search is like a Beautiful, Buttery Leather Sofa](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_pexels-photo-279645.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/why-retained-search-is-like-a-customized-piece-of-furniture) ## [Why Retained Search is like a Beautiful, Buttery Leather Sofa](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/why-retained-search-is-like-a-customized-piece-of-furniture) 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 ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/why-retained-search-is-like-a-customized-piece-of-furniture) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [Private Companies](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/private-companies) [Retained Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) [![Retained vs. Contingent: Decoding the World of Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_lupanaencyklopedii.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/retained-vs.-contingent-decoding-the-world-of-executive-search) ## [Retained vs. Contingent: Decoding the World of Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/retained-vs.-contingent-decoding-the-world-of-executive-search) At some point in its history, the executive search industry made a (perhaps not so) brilliant decision to categorize firms by their fee structures; Retained vs. Contingent. [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/retained-vs.-contingent-decoding-the-world-of-executive-search) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [Retained Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) [![Overcoming Fear of Hiring from the Outside in Family Owned Businesses](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/blog%20images/hiring_outside_the_family.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/overcoming-fear-of-hiring-from-the-outside-in-family-owned-businesses) ## [Overcoming Fear of Hiring from the Outside in Family Owned Businesses](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/overcoming-fear-of-hiring-from-the-outside-in-family-owned-businesses) At KeyStone, we work exclusively with mid-market, privately-held businesses. And we are fortunate to count many family owned businesses as our clients. Hiring outside executives into family owned businesses can be a challenge - but it’s certainly doable, and companies reap the benefits of adding ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/overcoming-fear-of-hiring-from-the-outside-in-family-owned-businesses) [Core Values](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/core-values) [Culture](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/culture) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [![Finding Your Integrator: Are you really ready?](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/blog%20images/The%20right%20Integrator%20is%20an%20important%20hire%20and%20will%20require%20extensive%20search%2c%20possibly%20with%20the%20help%20of%20a%20retained%20executive%20search%20firm.png) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/finding-your-integrator-are-you-really-ready) ## [Finding Your Integrator: Are you really ready?](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/finding-your-integrator-are-you-really-ready) As a Visionary, your eyes are always on the big picture, audacious goals, new ideas and growth, growth, growth. For the most part, this is a great thing; it’s why you’ve gotten this far in your business. But even the fastest sports cars in the world are made with brakes. At times you need to slow ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/finding-your-integrator-are-you-really-ready) [Visionary](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/visionary) [EOS](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/eos) [Hiring](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/hiring) [Integrator](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/integrator) [Executive Recruiting](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-recruiting) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) ## [Compared to What?](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/compared-to-what) I regularly have breakfast with a friend.  She is a former colleague, we have had many similar life experiences and we have come to know each other quite well.  She always begins our conversations by asking me how I’m doing.  On one particular occasion, instead of giving the usual rote answer of ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/compared-to-what) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [![Let’s Retire Touchy-Feely and Kumbaya Once and For All](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/rsz_portrait_of_a_young_couple_sitting_with_guitar_near_bonfire_in_the_forest.jpg) ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/lets-retire-touchy-feely-and-kumbaya-once-and-for-all) ## [Let’s Retire Touchy-Feely and Kumbaya Once and For All](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/lets-retire-touchy-feely-and-kumbaya-once-and-for-all) #### This post was kindly contributed by Leigh Bailey, founder and CEO of The Bailey Group. The Bailey Group partners with CEOs and their executive teams to provide clarity and alignment during uncertain times, ensuring that companies can navigate their current situations while building new business ... [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/lets-retire-touchy-feely-and-kumbaya-once-and-for-all) [Executive Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) ## [The War for Leadership](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/the-war-for-leadership) We’ve all heard the scary numbers regarding baby boomer retirements; Some 96M boomers to retire in the next 10 or so years, with only 46M Millennials behind them to fill in the gap. [Read More](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/the-war-for-leadership) [Evaluation](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/evaluation) [Executive Search](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) [All posts](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/all) ### How aligned are you? [![Is Your Leadership Team Aligned on Your Core Vlaues?](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/General%20Content%20Assets/Core%20Values%20Assessment/KS_Sidebar_CTA_Core_Values_Assessment@2x.png?width=758&height=750&name=KS_Sidebar_CTA_Core_Values_Assessment@2x.png)](https://explore.keystonesearch.com/core-values-assessment) [Take our Core Values Assessment](https://explore.keystonesearch.com/core-values-assessment) so you can create a great culture and acquire the right talent. ### Recent Posts [![Culture Still Matters](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/culture.jpg) ### Culture Still Matters January 31, 2023 ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/culture-still-matters) [![The 5 Key Checkpoints for Evaluating Integrators](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/blog%20images/purple_squirrel.jpg) ### The 5 Key Checkpoints for Evaluating Integrators January 10, 2023 ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/the-5-key-checkpoints-for-evaluating-integrators) [![Challenges and Successes as an ESOP CEO](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/hubfs/building-a-strong-team-wooden-blocks-with-people-icon-on-pink-human-picture-id1227412970.jpg) ### Challenges and Successes as an ESOP CEO October 21, 2020 ](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/new-esop-ceo-2) ### Categories - [Culture (18)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/culture) - [ESOP (15)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/esop) - [Executive Leadership (15)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-leadership) - [EOS (14)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/eos) - [Integrator (13)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/integrator) - [Visionary (13)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/visionary) - [Hiring (11)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/hiring) - [Leadership (10)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/leadership) - [Executive Search (9)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-search) - [Private Companies (7)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/private-companies) - [Evaluation (6)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/evaluation) - [Retained Executive Search (6)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/retained-executive-search) - [Core Values (4)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/core-values) - [Board of Directors (2)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/board-of-directors) - [CEO Transition (2)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/ceo-transition) - [Executive Recruiting (2)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/executive-recruiting) - [Keystone Updates (2)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/keystone-updates) - [Strategy (2)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/strategy) - [CEO Succession (1)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/ceo-succession) - [Communication (1)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/communication) - [Human Resources (1)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/human-resources) - [Mental Horsepower (1)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/mental-horsepower) - [Succession (1)](https://blog.keystonesearch.com/topic/succession) ### Sign up for updates from KeyStone Search ### Our Mission We help private companies reach the next level of success by securing executive leaders aligned with their vision, goals and values. ### Follow Us [**](https://twitter.com/KeyStone_Search) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/keystone-search) ### Navigation ### Search The Site Search ### Contact 143 Oakwood Rd. 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