Managing Director of executive headhunting firm Lann Consulting, Steven Murdoch, believes that the key to ticking off every item on the ideal employee wish list actually lies in the presence of an influential and charismatic leader.  

Murdoch comments: “In my experience the top candidates aren’t attracted by generic corporate messages delivered by someone separated from the line. The best potential employees are inspired by the real personalities behind the business whose vision drives the company’s ethos – after all would you buy into Virgin without the charisma of Sir Richard Branson or even know about the Arcadia Group without the influence and presence of Sir Philip Green?  

“It is absolutely essential for any company looking to recruit top talent into their business to introduce a key company advocate at first interview stage with the charisma to communicate core values and company vision in a compelling way. The candidate will buy into the advocate as much as the message, because this representative embodies and exudes the ethos of the company.”  

“More often than not it is a case of the candidate interviewing the potential employer, rather than the other way around. A successful interviewer should be mindful of this and know how to best sell the company, as well as assessing the candidate in order to negotiate a desirable outcome”   

However, recruiting candidates is only the tip of the iceberg, once they have joined the ranks the challenge to shape and grow the next generation of leaders begins. “Leaders of the most thriving companies work towards igniting individuality and creativity in employees – rather than promoting compliance.” Murdoch continues. “It is important that today’s CEOs positively encourage creativity and entrepreneurialism in their up and coming stars to attract and create influential leaders of the future.”  

Jim McCarthy, CEO of Poundland, has experienced the benefits of influential leaders first hand – helping to propel him to the position of Managing Director of Dillons Newsagent group by the age of 29 – a company he began working for as a newspaper boy for at the tender age of 12.   He believes it is the responsibility of the individual to seek out influential and charismatic leaders and to learn from them, even when the going gets tough.  He comments:   “I think you have the responsibility to pick the right boss, someone who’ll blow your trumpet for you. My first director at Dillons, Alex Stewart, showed me a number of things I hadn't previously been exposed to.”  

“Patience was certainly one and honesty was another - he would always say it the way it was. He taught me some hard lessons early on. He was quite frank with me and gave me good advice, but it was often tough advice to take because it was quite personal.”  McCarthy has been lucky enough to experience a string of influential leaders throughout his career, which has doubtless shaped him in to the strong charismatic personality he is today.     

When he was appointed as Managing Director for Dillions, John Hayward, the Deputy Chairman who had provided him with invaluable business grounding, vacated his own office to work in a box room. McCarthy comments:  “He rarely came out of that room to offer me advice, but when he did, he always said, ‘Have you considered…?’ rather than telling me what to do and I really appreciated that. Another great thing about John was that he never judged me because of my age, he always judged me by my performance.”   

It is very apparent that McCarthy feels incredibly appreciative towards those who recognised the ability in him early on and were prepared to invest in him – something he strives to replicate in order to nurture and grow talent within his own business today.  He concludes: “You can find talent anywhere in a business if you look hard enough. You can turn some people into real gems, so long as you’re prepared to recognise the talent, create the conditions in which it can thrive, and always try to recognise and celebrate success.”  McCarthy belongs to and appreciates the benefits of the charismatic school of leadership.

Today’s most influential and renowned business gurus all demonstrate the same qualities: charisma, personality and the ability to attract, retain and grow talent – a proven formula for success. 

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www.lann.co.uk  For further information please contact: 

Amy Garbutt or Jess Wilkinson on 0113 213 0310

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