Recruiting Conversations

Comp plans are easy to talk about. Culture, leadership, growth? Not so much. And yet, it's the non-financial value that actually moves the needle when it comes to attracting aligned, long-term hires. In this episode of Recruiting Conversations, I give you a clear, five-part framework to define, communicate, and personalize your non-financial value, so you can win recruits who care about more than just the paycheck. Episode Breakdown [00:00] Setup – Why this question matters more than ever: "How do we communicate non-financial value effectively?" [01:00] Step 1: Define What Sets You Apart – You can't communicate what you haven't clearly named Leadership style Support and growth systems Culture behaviors Flexibility, autonomy, mentorship, development   [02:00] Step 2: Get Specific – Vague phrases like "we care about our people" don't land. Say what support actually looks like 30/60/90 onboarding? Weekly 1-on-1s? Leadership development tracks?   [03:00] Step 3: Lead With It Early – Don't wait for someone to ask about comp before you start talking about culture "Most of the people who join our team do it because of how we lead and help people grow"   [04:00] Step 4: Use Storytelling to Bring It to Life Tell the story of a team member who overcame something with your support Share how someone grew into a leadership role Let the recruit feel what it's like to be on your team   [05:00] Step 5: Personalize the Conversation – Ask questions like: What's missing in your current environment? What kind of leader brings out your best? Then connect what you offer directly to what they care about   [06:00] Bonus Step: Show, Don't Just Tell Invite recruits to team meetings Share a behind-the-scenes video Let them talk to a current team member Create a simple tour of your onboarding process   Key Takeaways Vague Language Doesn't Attract Top Talent – Define your values, support systems, and culture in specific, shareable language Recruits Don't Buy Features. They Buy Feelings – Use story to make the value real and relatable Don't Wait for the Comp Question to Show Value – Lead with your differentiators Personalization Wins Trust – Listen first, then highlight what matters to them Experience Builds Belief – Let them see and feel your culture before they say yes Your team's culture and leadership style may be the best-kept secret in your recruiting strategy. Let's change that. Lead with the value that actually keeps people, and you'll attract the right ones every time.