Ask John Dame: Rehiring former employees, recovering your mojo

Question for John Dame : It is hard to find good talent. I have an opportunity to rehire a former employee. Should I do this?

JD’s Answer: Right now, especially as hard as it is to find new and talented employees it might seem like a good idea to rehire a former employee. Former employees may seem like a safer bet because they are a known quantity, require much less onboarding and can get up to speed more quickly. Here is the rub. Former employees turn over at a much higher rate that other employees (more than twice as often as people internally promoted). Additionally, internal and external hires improve more on the job over time. My suggestion would be to make sure you view this as a longer-term hire and think very carefully about the short-term versus long-term gains from rehiring a former employee. 

Question: When Covid-19 hit last March, I was able to energetically meet the daily challenges of leading my company. Now, a year later, I feel bogged down. Everything seems like a big deal and I feel worn out. Have I lost my mojo? 

JD’s Answer: Nobody ever has faced a leadership challenge exactly like the Covid 19 pandemic. We have now dealt with a year of uncertainty including lockdowns, working from home and drama we never expected to deal with. The CEOs that I work with are feeling drained just like you do. The question is how to get that mojo back. First, eat right, sleep eight hours every night and do not drink too much. I would also suggest you move every 90 minutes or so for at least 15 minutes. Our bodies are meant to move that often. 

Finally, my guess from our conversation, would be that you need to change your mind-set. When you stay in your “fight or flight” mindset too long your body dumps chemicals into your system that create a toxic mix. Practicing mindfulness for only five minutes two times per day can center your thinking and undo that toxic chemical cocktail your body is making. Give yourself permission to take some “real” time off to recover. You’ll Get that mojo back soon