Yahoo! CEO Takes Personal Charge of Hiring


As she marked her first 60 days at Yahoo! last week, CEO Marissa Mayer made it clear that people will be the main focus of her efforts to turn one of the Web’s most iconic brands around. No matter what kind of business you operate or how small it may be, people will always be at the heart of your success. Bringing in the right employees and building an effective team are important jobs for any business owner. Here are some thoughts on meeting the challenge.

A League of Their Own

Marissa takes charge. In an unusual move that industry insiders say has slowed down the process but is probably a necessary step, Mayer has reportedly taken charge of hiring at Yahoo! in recent weeks, and is now personally reading the resume of every serious contender to see that they meet her exacting standards. The idea, sources say, is to avoid under-performers in the ranks. BGR

More than a feeling. Since her arrival at Yahoo! in July, Mayer has sent clear signals that people, not technology, are the most important asset Yahoo! possesses. Signs of this commitment and a focus on placing the right people into the right positions has led to some high profile changes in the company’s upper management, and new work requirements, offset by new perks for all employees. Silicon Republic

Battling burnout. The most important part of managing the perfect team, once assembled, is to keep members working and motivated so they don’t burn out and jump ship. To do this, Mayer has developed a technique focused on helping employees, not by reducing their work loads, but by helping them find their rhythm instead. Business Insider

Now It’s Your Turn

This is how we do it. Small business owners may believe they can’t compete with huge companies like Yahoo! for the best talent. Not true, says one business coach, who insists that high salaries and prestige aren’t all that attract great employees. Instead, perhaps you should think about hiring employees for their attitude instead of their skill level. You can train the team you need. Bernd Geropp

So happy together. Once you have a team together, the key is to members happy and working while building your company. As it turns out, there are a variety of ways to motivate your team, and big raises and bonuses aren’t the only options open to you. Here are 11 other tips for keeping your employees motivated and moving your business forward. Business News Daily

Balancing act. One of the things employees most often list as important for job satisfaction is a good work/life balance. Depending on the kind of business you operate, providing an environment that allows your employees this kind of balance could go a long way toward creating loyalty and satisfaction in your team. The question is what work/life balance really means to them, and whether you, as an employer, can make it possible. B2B Bliss

House rules. Another way to improve employee satisfaction is by allowing workers more flexibility, for example, the ability to work remotely from time to time. Of course, working from home isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Here are some tips from one work-at-home dad that will make the experience more productive and beneficial for everyone. Productive Superdad

4 Comments ▼
4 Reactions
  1. In small business, entrepreneurs are usually involved in hiring decisions but for Marissa to get involved in these decisions as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company says a lot about importance of hiring and significance of human capital.

  2. Alternatively…Marissa possesses trust and control issues….

    • Keith, well, there’s that too. 🙂

      But, you know, it’s not unusual for a CEO to get heavy into the details of hiring when first on board. The real question in my mind will be whether she’s still that deeply involved 10 months from now. That will be telling.

      – Anita

  3. Going along with what Simon said, this really shows how important human capital really is. I’m interested to see who she ends up choosing and what that team will be able to do.