How HR robs us of good leaders

Indeed, I caught out a large church organization in Port Adelaide recently who advertised on Seek looking for a communication officer. They received more than 20 applications only to find that they employed a young woman who already worked for the organisation. That happens a lot. When a client tells me that, I send the information to the CEO and ask them for a response. If they don't respond, I tell the media.

A conclusion of sorts

Recruitment isn't a science. There are many fine recruiters adept at the art of drawing the best out of people in interviews. Some recruiters can even read between the lines of a poorly constructed CV and discern, using judgment and acuity, some gems of experience that may be worth exploring.

We bemoan the lack of public and corporate leadership in Australia. There's a lack of spine to make unpopular decisions, an inability to discern between the ethically right and wrong choice. There's a preoccupation with salary over customer service. But equally, we put up with this.

But wouldn't it be the wise thing to ensure we employed the right people in the first place rather than contracting out the destiny of the public service or corporations in to the hands of strangers?