Parklife Communications: The Land of Misfit Toys
A while back, Parklife’s CEO Brian Castle said that everyone at our company “has a unique bond because we were misfit toys before this gig.” Our puzzle pieces never perfectly fit in at other organizations, but at Parklife, our creative and personality differences blend together effortlessly, and I believe this is what helps us stand out as a marketing agency. I’m here to tell you why your business should start hiring people who are different from you.
Differences Help You Grow
While it’s great for everyone to have common interests and all, it’s much more effective to hire someone who has a unique viewpoint and an open, collaborative personality. By hiring individuals who bring special experiences and knowledge to your organization, as well as a kind and positive attitude, you’ll be well on your way to growing your organization. Many companies will remain stagnant for years because they refuse to hire anyone that doesn’t quite fit the mold, and this is one of the biggest reasons why businesses fail. When everyone thinks and acts the same, there’s no room for innovation. When there’s no room for innovation, this is when businesses start to fail and eventually shut their doors.
Forget Hiring For Cultural Fit
Instead of focusing on the cultural fit, focus on what someone can add to the company culture. Alex Moore, Director of Talent Acquisition at Credera, put it well when he said “Culture adds have the will and skill to think differently, so proactively infusing them into the culture is vital for growth. If you want your company to continue to grow and evolve, your culture must grow and evolve along with it." What I love most about Parklife Communications is that each of our team members brings something totally new to the table. Due to our different upbringings and life experiences, we approach situations from a unique perspective which allows us to create exciting work that would be impossible in a completely homogenous environment. Despite our differences, we always make sure to respect each other’s opinions and be open to new ways of doing things.
Give Quirky People a Chance
If you’ve ever been in charge of hiring a new employee for your company, there’s a good chance you’ve interviewed someone that came off as a bit of a character. Maybe their personal style contrasted significantly with your own, they showed up with their resume printed on bright orange paper, or they made an offhand comment about owning five pet iguanas. If you notice unique traits in a candidate, explore how they will contribute to your company culture. Too often, quirky people who don’t fit the cookie cutter mold are overlooked by hiring managers and this results in a huge loss of talent. Instead of hiring people based on how well they’ll match your current employees, hire people who will contribute something special to your company.
