In part 2 of this conversation, with Lindy Taylor and Wiehahn De Jager - they continue the discussion around the critical role of soft skills in hiring, the importance of company culture, and the impact of AI on recruitment processes. Wiehahn shares insights from his experience at CrossBoundary, emphasising the need for clarity in communication and the significance of understanding candidates' motivations. They explore trends in the climate change sector and how organisations can adapt to attract and retain top talent.

Takeaways

• Soft skills are essential for career advancement.
• A positive relationship with feedback is crucial.
• Being comfortable with ambiguity is a valuable skill.
• Understanding when to influence versus when to execute is key.
• Company culture should be clearly defined and communicated.
• AI can enhance recruitment but requires careful implementation.
• Recruitment metrics should focus on outcomes, not just inputs.
• Assessing past behaviours is more informative than hypothetical questions.
• Understanding candidates' motivations is vital for retention.
• Diversity in hiring leads to better organisational outcomes.

Titles

• Unlocking the Power of Soft Skills in Hiring
• Building a Culture of Success at CrossBoundary

Sound Bites

• "We have a very clear culture."
• "Ask them what they've done."
• "You can't step in the same river twice."

Chapters

32:27: De-risking the Hiring Process

34:00: Assessing Soft Skills in Recruitment

37:00: Evaluating Cultural Fit

38:16: Authenticity in Interviewing

43:02: Understanding Candidate Motivations

47:47: The Importance of Reference Checks

49:49: Red and Green Flags in Interviews

55:51: Retention Strategies for Top Talent

01:01:18: Trends in Climate-Focused Talent Acquisition

In this conversation, Lindy Taylor and Wiehahn De Jager discuss the critical role of soft skills in hiring, the importance of company culture, and the impact of AI on recruitment processes. Wiehahn shares insights from his experience at CrossBoundary, emphasising the need for clarity in communication and the significance of understanding candidates' motivations. They explore trends in the climate change sector and how organisations can adapt to attract and retain top talent.

Takeaways

• Soft skills are essential for career advancement.
• A positive relationship with feedback is crucial.
• Being comfortable with ambiguity is a valuable skill.
• Understanding when to influence versus when to execute is key.
• Company culture should be clearly defined and communicated.
• AI can enhance recruitment but requires careful implementation.
• Recruitment metrics should focus on outcomes, not just inputs.
• Assessing past behaviours is more informative than hypothetical questions.
• Understanding candidates' motivations is vital for retention.
• Diversity in hiring leads to better organisational outcomes.

Titles

• Unlocking the Power of Soft Skills in Hiring
• Building a Culture of Success at CrossBoundary

Sound Bites

• "We have a very clear culture."
• "Ask them what they've done."
• "You can't step in the same river twice."

Chapters

00:00: The Importance of Soft Skills in Hiring

04:33: Understanding CrossBoundary and Its Impact

10:44: The Journey into Talent Acquisition

16:39: Navigating AI in Recruitment

28:33: Measuring Recruitment Success with KPIs

Welcome to the 5th Discipline Podcast – the space where we explore everything about people, brand, and systems to help climate change players in Africa scale with impact. 🌍⚡

In this episode, we sit down with Anja Visagie, Chief Growth & Marketing Officer at SPS – a leading renewables assessment management company operating across the SADC region and part of the Gridworks portfolio.

Anja shares her insights on leadership, growth, and building resilient teams in the fast-evolving renewable energy sector. From developing new leadership skills to fostering trust, inclusion, and collaboration in diverse teams, she unpacks the real-world challenges of scaling a climate-tech business in Africa.

• Leadership skills and tools every manager needs to grow 📈
• Building trust and collaboration in uncertain times 🤝
• Creating inclusive team environments where innovation thrives 💡
• Keeping yourself and your team motivated in high-pressure roles 🔥
• Aligning company values with diversity in talent acquisition 🌱
• Encouraging innovation in renewable energy companies ⚡
• Leadership lessons Anja had to learn and unlearn quickly 🧠

If you’re interested in leadership, organisational culture, scaling startups, and climate innovation in Africa, this conversation is packed with practical lessons and inspiration.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to the 5th Discipline Podcast and follow us on LinkedIn (@5thDiscipline) to stay updated on our latest episodes.