After 25 years in executive recruiting, I can usually predict how an offer negotiation will unfold. It’s in the subtleties…the unspoken signals, the energy, the questions asked and not asked. But sometimes, life throws curveballs that no interview process can uncover.
Last spring, I watched this play out in real time. A highly talented senior leader declined what seemed like a perfect offer. The hiring company was surprised and disappointed. Standard playbook? Move on to the next candidate.
Instead, they did something unexpected.
They asked questions. They listened. They showed their passion for their business and their care for their employees.
The candidate had a complex family situation that couldn’t be solved with a traditional full-time role. Rather than walking away, this company got creative. They crafted a flexible part-time consulting arrangement that eventually evolved into a General Manager position.
Special companies understand that people’s lives are complex. They see people as individuals, not interchangeable resources. They have the confidence to pursue unconventional solutions and the organizational agility to execute them quickly.
In a world where companies talk about “people-first culture,” this company lived it when it mattered most.
The lesson? The companies worth working for are the ones that reveal their character not in the easy moments, but when faced with the unexpected.
The result? My client landed a powerhouse, gem of a leader, and she landed with a gem, a powerhouse of a company. Together, they’re building an extraordinary business.
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