We’re all hired hands for new hires. And your range of prospects is likely more open than you think.

People relate to people. Recruiting is all about relationships. Everyone is looking for new, better ways to recruit people in a labor market that feels more like the wild, wild west.

Our Centers of Influence are a natural, organic, powerful way to maintain an active list of quality candidates for any position at Datamax. What are Centers of Influence? It essentially means surrounding yourself with influential people, people who know your business, your expectations, and your culture, and then seeking their help in finding quality people.

“Your’s could be a customer, could be a friend, someone who knows our company, or anyone they know who might be a good fit for our organization. Your Centers of Influence are powerful recruiting tools. Use them,” encourages Datamax Inc. President Barry Simon.

How do you use it? How do you know COI will work? Here are four keys to COI success.

1. Precision.

Be precise and strategic when using COIs. As a general definition, COIs are people and organizations that can help you and that you feel comfortable asking for help. But there’s a big difference between understanding what a COI is and translating that into action. The latter requires hard work, planning, and specificity in your goals. “Casting a wide net” isn’t a strategy; it’s just a good way to waste a lot of time.

2. Mapping.

To ensure you’re using your time and resources strategically, begin by mapping out the COIs that may be able to help you. Here are some strong places to start:

• Most industries require continuing education. Continuing education events are a great place to connect with colleagues and competitors in one place.
• Social organizations built around a cause often bring like-minded people together. If you find one that you genuinely care about and can actively contribute to, you’re likely to meet people you easily connect with, as you already have something in common. This COI works especially well when you add value to a group over time.
• Every industry has a group of external partners that service and have connections with the entire industry. In my field of financial services, for example, these partners are often accountants and attorneys. These people tend to be aware of all the latest local information: who joined a firm, who left a firm or what’s going on with a competitor.
• Attending industry-sponsored events can help you meet experts in your field, gather competitive intelligence and pick up on trends that may help you do your job more effectively.

3. Authenticity.

Don’t be a user. There’s no quicker way to build a bad reputation than by using people as stepping stones to new business or a wider talent pool. View COIs as long-term relationships: They can help you, and you should look for opportunities to reciprocate. COIs aren’t a quick fix.

4. Diversification.

Though COIs are a great tool to have in your repertoire, you should by no means fill 40 hours each week with COI activities. Your strategy should remain diverse — and yes, that may mean some dial time! Blend COI activities with other tried-and-true strategies for the best, most sustainable results.

Over time, you’ll find that building meaningful relationships with COIs can offer exponential returns (to use another financial services buzzword). Developing connections inside and outside the industry can help you find new relationships now and lay the foundation for increased business down the line, especially in conjunction with other smart lead-generation strategies.