Birds and HR

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" says an English proverb. In addition, the Polish adage goes like this: "Lepszy wrobel w garsci niz golab na dachu" (German equivalent: "Besser ein Spatz in der Hand, als eine Taube auf dem Dach"); literal meaning: "A sparrow in your hand is better than a pigeon on the roof".

In all three languages, this proverb relates to decision-making and risk-taking even though the English proverb suggests taking a chance for quantitative gain and the Polish and German proverb focuses on the qualitative win.

The current HR practice is just the opposite of the wisdom espoused in the proverb. It implies to see many candidates before hiring the “best”. So, the hiring decision is postponed until interviews are held with a handful of candidates. Even though HR will meet highly qualified candidates, it tends to continue the process by bringing in yet another candidate for an assessment and interview. Indeed, this entire process is a poor use of time and a gamble toward losing qualified candidates on-hand because HR is trying to secure better candidates (more qualified or less expensive, please decide on the one you prefer) though they may be out of reach anyway.

Thus, although well known and passed on from one generation to another, the “bird” proverb has been overruled by indecision in HR. Instead, an applied proverb would cause action once HR finds a suitable candidate. Just-in-Time HR instead of the typical 60-day recruitment cycle would be a real breakthrough.

Lastly, birds are indeed a good metaphor to help shape thinking in contemporary HR because of the way talent is flying around these days between employers as discussed in DDI’s article “Flight of Human Capital”; which I referred to in one of my earlier blog entries.