How Velteo DNA created Talent Gravity

I keep hearing about how difficult it is to find talent in the current climate. Don't get me wrong there is definitely a skills shortage out there but at Velteo we don't deem skills alone to be the be all and end all. Talent in my book is the make up of a combination of motivation, awareness, experience and competency otherwise referred to internally as DNA. I would much rather hire a person based on their match for us on motivation and awareness than just experience and competency alone.

At Velteo we have discovered and are harnessing what we call the Velteo DNA:

This is critical to all aspects of our business because it determines how we hire, how we engage, how we communicate and build relationships and how we operate. The top two critical DNA characteristics are Hunger and Customer Awareness. These traits cannot be taught, you either have then or you don't. 

In defining Hunger I mean the drive to achieve and improve time and time again, true hunger though requires alignment to a vision, its then that it becomes inspiration and we have a lot of that at Velteo.

I define Customer Awareness as an innate ability to know what a customer wants and respond from that intent. Customer intimacy being the ultimate end state predicates that you care first and solve second.

The second two DNA characteristics can be learned. They are Commercial savviness and technical or business competency. Being Commercial at Velteo requires thinking like an owner and managing your own time while holding yourself accountable and understanding the bottom line implications of your efforts and top line potential of your value.

The final characteristic is what most people term 'skill' or competency. This can certainly be taught and with the right integrated learning method and support environment can be taught rapidly. Whether it is Force.com development competency, technical Business Analyst work or Business Process Improvement Consulting these skills can all be learnt.

However, before any DNA strain can form it must be built on a solid and holistic Cultural Backbone. This is where talent is found, developed and harnessed. Velteo's Cultural Backbone is one of transparency, genuineness, accountability and empowerment otherwise known as a Tribal Culture or family.

I can honestly attribute Velteo's performance thus far to its people. The Velteo DNA and culture must be working as we seem to be attracting talent to us, even with customers who once they get a taste of the Veltean way want to engage further. So regarding that skills shortage issue, I believe if you have the right culture you will attract the right people, if you set the right intent and vision you will always have the right people on the bus and the benefit of gravity on your side.

We are planning rapid growth during 2011, if you feel you are a Veltean and need a supportive organisation who can help you achieve a meaningful career, please contact us at Iwantvelteo@velteo.com.