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To Poach, or Not To Poach, That is the Question.
The Question: I want to hire a superstar lawyer I managed at my last company, but I am worried that poaching her will burn bridges with my former employer. What should I do?
Good people are very hard to find. So when you have a positive experience working with and managing a superstar lawyer, your desire to recruit that person to your new team is understandable. But when it comes to poaching a valued employee from a former employer, you must tread lightly – as you run the risk of drawing ire from your former boss and colleagues. And such a move can jeopardize relationships and taint your reputation. Two things that should be carefully preserved in this microscopic legal and business world in which we all reside.
So does this mean you should stay clear of hiring this A Player? Not necessarily. But it is important to determine whether poaching this lawyer is worth the potential relationship fallout. In order to do this, consider the following:
After assessing the above, you may determine that it’s too risky a path to take – and elect to pursue alternative measures like conducting a search and considering other candidates. If this lawyer has approached you and you elect not to engage, be honest about the challenges facing his/her candidacy and move on. But if you elect to press forward…and your recruiting efforts succeed in landing your superstar, I recommend that you extend your former colleagues the professional courtesy of a phone call (email is a distant second) to notify them of the situation, address any issues and create closure. This will maximize your ability to preserve your relationships and mitigate bad feelings. Might it be uncomfortable? Yes. Might it be hard? Yep. Might there be conflict? Uh huh. Regardless, being direct and open is the professional…and right thing to do. And you’ll feel better about yourself for doing so. If you have anxiety, prepare for your call and any questions, complaints or barbs that might come your way and you’ll feel more confident going into the conversation.
It’s a dog eat dog world out there – and competition for the best talent remains stiff. So picking off your former superstar employee is an easy way to build your world-class team. It’s a tempting proposition, no doubt. But before you act, pause…and consider the issues that should influence your decision and your conduct in the process. By doing so thoughtfully, you will determine for yourself whether tis nobler to poach….or not.
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