“I am very very grateful. You are an exceptional company.” Meaningful words my firm received this past Sunday from a CEO regarding the closing of a Chief level search project.

Let’s “reverse engineer” and understand how these words were earned:

  • Have placed 5 very talented executives in the past 1.5 years with this client
  • Honored a one year guarantee on an executive placement (even though it lapsed by one week in week 53) and then successfully hired an outstanding replacement for the client company
  • Getting involved with local business economic and charitable initiatives that is important to the CEO and therefore important to my firm
  • Making a point to see my client face to face when possible to kick off searches or when presenting a candidate slate
  • Truly understanding the client brand so that my firm can sell executives on this terrific company and their uniqueness.

Hard work, tenacity, active listening, highest integrity level and understanding client needs and wants is important to earning client trust and a long term relationship. There is nothing sweeter to my firm than to hear the words, “I am very very grateful. You are an exceptional company.”