by Mandy Green, Busy Coach
What if embracing certain paradoxes—ideas that seem contradictory but work together—could help you become a more effective recruiter?
Consider how you can use these powerful paradoxes to work smarter, recruit better, and set yourself apart as a college coach.
1. Money Paradox: You need to lose money… to make money.
I know a lot of you have small recruiting budgets to spend on traveling to tournaments, buying athletes names from companies, or on your CRM. Spending money on anything else to help you’re your recruiting can feel risky, but investing in the right resources and guidance now can lead to major long-term benefits.
Tip for You: Consider putting some of your recruiting or continuing education budget toward working with us at Tudor for a year. Get personalized training and consulting that targets your unique recruiting challenges. You will gain access to specialized consulting, personalized advice, and top-notch training that can give you a competitive edge. The insights and strategies you gain will not only help you land the right recruits now but will also strengthen your recruiting skills for seasons to come.
2. Effort Paradox: It takes an insane amount of effort… to make something effortless.
To make recruiting run smoothly, you need to put in serious work behind the scenes. Planning, preparing, and personalizing your approach makes it look seamless to potential recruits and their families. When your recruiting process feels natural, recruits feel more at ease and connected.
Tip for You: Put in the work to create a streamlined, welcoming recruiting process. The more effort you invest in creating a polished experience, the easier it will feel to your recruits—and that could set you apart.
3. Paradox of Fast and Slow: As things move faster… leaders must slow down to reflect and challenge assumptions.
Everything in college athletics moves fast, but if you’re always rushing, you might miss key details about potential recruits. Slow down occasionally to evaluate your recruiting strategy and reflect on which tactics work best.
Tip for You: Schedule time monthly to review your approach. Even short breaks for reflection can help you focus on what matters most, leading to better decisions and more targeted recruiting.
4. Fear Paradox: What you fear… is likely what you need to do.
If there’s a part of recruiting that feels uncomfortable—like doing more phone calls, talking to parents, or reaching out to unfamiliar connections—that’s likely where growth awaits. The steps you’re hesitant to take could be the ones that bring the biggest wins.
Tip for You: Identify the parts of recruiting that make you anxious and tackle them directly. Pushing past these fears can help you reach new heights in your recruiting success.
5. Self vs. Community Paradox: To influence the community (team / recruits)… the leader must work on self.
When you invest in your own growth, your recruiting approach gets stronger. Learning new strategies, improving your people skills, or simply finding ways to stay organized makes you more effective—and more appealing to recruits.
Tip for You: Set aside time each week to work on your skills. The more you improve yourself, the more potential recruits will trust and admire you, which boosts your recruiting effectiveness.
6. No Paradox: Do less… accomplish more.
Recruiting can seem endless, with dozens of events, meetings, and tasks. But sometimes, focusing on fewer, high-impact activities can yield better results than trying to cover every base.
Tip for You: Identify the recruiting activities that truly bring results and cut back on the ones that don’t. Quality over quantity can help you attract the right recruits more efficiently.
7. Control Paradox: More controlling… less control.
Trying to control every aspect of recruiting can be overwhelming. Empowering your staff, trusting their skills, and letting them take on parts of the process can expand your reach. When you trust others, you free yourself up to focus on the recruits who need the most attention.
Tip for You: Step back from trying to control it all. Delegate tasks and allow your staff to showcase their strengths, creating a recruiting team that is stronger together.
8. Constant Change Paradox: When you are finished changing, you are finished. ~ Benjamin Franklin
The recruiting landscape constantly shifts, from new social media trends to updated recruiting rules. Keeping up with these changes keeps you competitive and gives you an edge over programs that resist change.
Tip for You: Stay open to new recruiting tools, platforms, and ideas. Embracing change can keep your recruiting fresh and exciting for today’s recruits.
The Paradox Theory applied to your recruiting may feel unusual, but these contradictions can help you become a stronger recruiter if you put them into play.
If you’re ready to take your recruiting skills to the next level, set up a call with Mandy Green. She’d love to help you develop a plan to recruit smarter, not harder, and bring more success to your career. Email her at mandy@dantudor.com to set up that call.