Students of the American Revolutionary War will probably remember reading about Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Von Steuben was a military leader recruited by General George Washington to serve as the drillmaster of the Continental Army. Incredibly, von Steuben managed to turn a rag-tag collection of farmers and stable boys into an officer corps that led the Americans to victory.
“OK,” you’re thinking. “But what does that have to do with executive recruiting?”
Simple. General Washington’s forces faced a well-trained army of British conscripts and Hessian mercenaries. If Washington was to level the playing field, he’d need to recruit a skilled outsider who knew the enemy and what it would take to defeat them—namely, Baron Von Steuben. Washington knew he couldn’t achieve victory with second-rate people—and neither can you.
Business in the New Economy is a more civilized version of war. Today, companies, not countries, are battlefield rivals. If you’re going to win, only the best can lead the charge. They mean the difference between ‘victory’ versus ‘vanquished’.
Locating and enlisting executives is what executive recruiting is all about. As the following case studies demonstrate, achieving your vision requires a carefully crafted plan, be expertly executed by a professional.
