Poached by friends

In the world where we are all struggling to keep our talent or to attract talent. What if somebody known to you purchase one of your valuable team members?I'm sure it has already happened to you. And if you're not already, you're very lucky. The first time I did something like that, I got a call from the employer who also happened to be a competitor. He called me over Starbucks and said, look, this is not done. And of course, he said many other unpleasant things. Of course, he paid the bill. So I also didn't know how to react because that was my first time.

But now often when I look at those instances happening around us, what should we do? The last time it happened to me, I sort of sent a text to somebody whom I knew because in my head, I felt it's not done. And I said, look, you have so and so not something that I appreciate of, but for the relationship we have possibly you shouldn't indulge. He said sure enough, I'll take care of it. Not to worry. Obviously. No, I wish he had said, don't lock up your door. Don't tell me what to do in my house. Right. So, I'm very uncomfortable talking to somebody when let's say my own valuable colleagues are recruited by them.

After all, I believe I'm in a recruitment business and when I keep recruiting from others, it gives a license to everyone to recruit from us too. However, the thin line is, it pinches a little more when somebody known to you does that to you, doesn't it? And you feel somewhere a little entitled to tell them that, hey, don't recruit from me. I think it's sort of very sensitive to have that kind of, I've done that before. Not very comfortable, but at least I got the kicks off expressing to them that look, I didn't like it. Of course, after saying that I believe it's a deterrent where they won't do it again. And that's only intent, right? So you feel that you are entitled to tell somebody else not to recruit them, but let's say somebody who is not known to you recruits them, you sort of keep quiet. It doesn't hurt you.

I also feel it's a little diabolic to feel bad when somebody known to you poaches your own team and a stranger recruits from you. You don't feel anything at all. Why does it feel? So, do we feel entitled because somebody knows us, they cannot recruit from our team or is still kind of a backhanded compliment if somebody known to you recruit from you? Where do you stand in this world of people known to you poaching your own stuff? Tune in to hear more from Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, a specialist staffing firm.