One of my favourite quotes is from Eric Ries, Author of The Lean Startup; “The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else.”
The Lean Startup is more than just a business philosophy, it’s a movement that is transforming the way companies are built and new products are launched. It’s about adopting an iterative approach to product development, focused on learning what your customers really want, testing your vision continuously, adapting and adjusting before it’s too late.
In today’s economic climate,constant innovation is not only recommended, but it’s also necessary to keep up with the pace of what our industry category is doing. Companies that don’t keep up with innovation risk becoming obsolete, and playing catch up may be out of reach. The Lean Startup Methodology is a proven way to ensure your company stays ahead of the curve.
The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else
Here at Wamly, this Lean Startup Methodology is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in working smarter, not harder. We believe in testing early and often, and in using customer feedback to guide product development. We believe in continuous improvement, always looking for ways to optimise our processes and systems.
Coaching the team on the Lean Startup Methodology can make for difficult conversations, but we know these conversations are crucial to the success of our hard work. Much like hiring and firing, difficult conversations become crucial conversations, and when we create an environment that allows for these conversations to happen, we can avoid wasted time and energy in the long run.
So how can you apply the Lean Startup Methodology to your hiring process?
The Lean Startup Methodology is a game-changing approach to product development, helping companies to rapidly create and test new ideas, while minimising the risk of failure. However, this approach is not limited to product development, and can also be applied to other areas of a business, including the hiring process.Â
One of the core principles of the Lean Startup Methodology is about working smarter, not harder. This principle can be particularly relevant in the hiring process, where companies often spend significant amounts of time and resources to identify and recruit the best candidates.
By leveraging technology and implementing software, companies can streamline the hiring process and make it more efficient. One example of such technology is one-way video interview software. This allows candidates to record their responses to pre-determined questions, which recruiters can then review at their convenience. This saves time and allows recruiters to review more candidates than they would have been able to in a traditional face-to-face interview setting.
Another benefit of using technology in the hiring process is the ability to collaborate with team members in a shared online workspace. This can be particularly useful in larger organisations where multiple stakeholders may be involved in the hiring decision. By working together in a shared online workspace, team members can review candidates and provide feedback in real-time, making the hiring process faster and more collaborative.
However, it’s important to note that adopting a Lean Startup approach to hiring is not just about implementing new technology. It’s also about being open to change and continuously looking for ways to improve the process. This can involve re-evaluating traditional hiring practices and challenging assumptions about what makes a good candidate.
Ultimately, the key to success with the Lean Startup approach is to focus on the candidate experience. Just as the Lean Startup approach prioritises the customer experience in product development, it’s important to ensure that candidates have a positive experience throughout the hiring process. This can include providing timely feedback and clear communication about the hiring process.
In closing today, I’ll leave you with this quote from Eric’s book – but I encourage you to replace the word ‘customers’ with ‘candidates’ and then read it again:
“Anything those customers experience from their interaction with a company should be considered part of that company’s product.” – Eric Ries, The Lean Startup
