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Purple squirrels: Hiring the ultimate game changers

David Dumeresque (Tyzack Partners, London, England)

Strategic Direction

ISSN: 0258-0543

Article publication date: 8 July 2014

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the salient issues relating to the employment of Purple Squirrels. As the business world begins to undergo rapid change, to remain competitive business leaders must hire and retain extraordinary people – those who are supreme innovators and who are able to conceptualize and deliver real and lasting change. We refer to these people as Purple Squirrels, very rare individuals who are extremely talented with a multifarious mix of core skills. They also have an “X” factor that allows them to look at things differently and see opportunities where others might not. To achieve this mission-critical objective, conventional recruitment methods need to change. Competency-based methods may work well for junior and middle management, but when searching for the ultimate game changer – the supreme innovator – these methods are inappropriate.

Design/methodology/approach

Draws on the author’s research to provide an insight into the benefits of CRM.

Findings

This paper discusses the salient issues relating to the employment of Purple Squirrels.

Originality/value

It will benefit business leaders, hiring managers and human resources managers by improving their understanding of the changes in recruitment methods needed to attract and employ the people who are capable of driving meaningful and sustainable change.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

© 2014 Armadillo Consulting Group

Citation

Dumeresque, D. (2014), "Purple squirrels: Hiring the ultimate game changers", Strategic Direction, Vol. 30 No. 8, pp. 41-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/SD-08-2014-0098

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Authors

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