I came across this blog post and thought it was worth sharing. Hiring the right people to represent your art gallery and support your vision is so critical to success. However, when I see job postings for gallery staff, they are usually requiring previous gallery experience or an art related degree. I understand this, but really all that is needed a genuine passion for art and what artists contribute to those who incorporate into their lives.
This post echos my belief that often the best hire your gallery could make is someone who shares your passion and vision for your business. Small to mid-sized galleries often have staff that is made up of people with personal relationship to the owner, such as friends or family. Maybe this is because the owner feels these people would be fun to work with everyday or because they don’t have to pay them as much. It could be a good business move to look for candidates outside your own circle and art industry. Often hiring outside the industry can bring a fresh new perspective and lead to opportunities not otherwise seen, such as more effective sales processes, creative marketing techniques or better customer support.
Clones
Post by David Mead on Re:Focus – Simple ideas to help you thrive blog
Recently, I was challenged on the idea of only hiring those who believe what we believe. The argument came from a place of genuine concern. The person who raised the concern was part of an environment where most of those who were hired were friends of those doing the hiring. They had gone to school together, enjoyed the same sports, rooted for the same teams. It was a classic ‘Good ol’ boy’ hiring system.
It’s not about hiring people who are just like us or who share our same personal interests. The goal is to hire those who are driven by the same selfless cause or purpose that drives our organizations forward – the Why.
There’s nothing wrong with sharing similarities. However surrounding ourselves with those who believe what we believe transcends personal interests. It’s about the world we imagine and the contribution we make to that world that can’t be realized unless we’re all working toward it together.
