Unlikely hero.

Let’s start off on the right foot

The skinny 

Develop your people, and they’ll surprise you and themselves.

♥ 

Mr. Frodo.

Today, March 25th, is Tolkien Reading Day. And this time, people are celebrating 20 years since the iconic final film hit theaters in 2003. The trilogy has been so instrumental to fantasy readers and movie fans alike, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is coming back to theaters in a few short weeks for its anniversary.  

Unlikely hero.

A cinematic masterpiece, not only in its time but still today, the series follows a risk-adverse hobbit and his unassuming friend when they set off on a quest to destroy a powerful ring and save the world from evil. Two decades later, this story is still moving hearts, encouraging us to never underestimate ourselves or our friends.  

Hire the metaphorical hobbit.

For the first time in hiring history, soft skills are poised to be more preferred over hard skills. Cynics may suggest that robots and AI are taking over responsibilities, leaving more demand for those relationship-building human skills. While this has truth, there’s a more practical reason: Talent is hard to come by and technical abilities, especially those niche proficiencies, are increasingly convenient and economical to teach on the job.  

The youths.

While the recruiting landscape continues to change on us, there’s no time like the present to invest in green talent—whether recent college grads or other early professionals no matter their age. Learning something new each day and often looking forward to a variety of advancement opportunities, Gen Z workers are likely to stay at your organization for more than six years! 

Chomping at the bit.

But how can you infuse the rest of your workforce—from their first day of new hire onboarding to their final day eating that retiree cake— with this same spirit? The answer lies in expectations. The young are expected to fall and get back up. Do all your employees feel safe to fail and learn from their mistakes? Because just like sage Gandalf, having a caring mentor who truly believes in your career path is irreplaceable.