Future-Proof Your Business: Smart Hiring, Lasting Impact

The commercial art market is at a crossroads, offering organisations a unique opportunity to reassess strategies, strengthen teams, and build resilience. By capitalising on this quieter period, businesses can position themselves for sustained success.

Forward-thinking organisations are using this time to refine internal structures, enhance efficiencies, and drive innovation. Over the past year, across nearly 300 searches in 22 cities worldwide, we have supported market leaders and emerging businesses taking bold steps in succession planning and implementing operational shifts to reach new markets and clients—changes that are no longer optional but essential to maintaining competitiveness.

However, even with a clear vision of the organisations they aspire to build and the roles they need to fill, we continue to watch businesses falter in their efforts. Common pitfalls—such as inadequate planning, rushed decisions or misaligned communication—frequently result in wasted time, resources, and missed opportunities.

To overcome these challenges, adopting a structured approach built on three core pillars is essential:

Planning

Strategic planning ensures hiring initiatives align with both immediate needs and long-term objectives. This includes identifying critical roles, defining the necessary skillsets, understanding what will attract and retain top talent (compensation, benefits, and work environment), and adapting organisational structures to support growth and success.

Clients who invest time in planning—crafting comprehensive job descriptions and determining how a role fits within a team—typically experience faster and smoother hiring processes. This preparation not only simplifies identifying and evaluating candidates but also allows flexibility if requirements shift, as it is easier to address gaps or adjust expectations within a well-defined framework.

In contrast, clients who adopt a more reactive and rushed approach to filling gaps often face significant challenges. To mitigate this, we work closely with them to refine role requirements, develop clear profiles, and assess market realities before leveraging our networks. This collaborative preparation ensures the best outcomes while streamlining the hiring process.

Timing

Timing is everything. Aligning new hires or organisational changes with market conditions and internal readiness is critical to maximising impact.

As highlighted, quieter market periods provide an invaluable opportunity to reflect, refine, and reconfigure operations, ensuring everything is in place well in advance. These moments allow organisations to evaluate who and what is truly needed, investing in thoughtful planning and comprehensive market analysis. This proactive approach minimises risks such as unexpected roadblocks, mismatched placements, or lost potential, ensuring decisions are timely and strategically sound.

When permanent hires are impractical or premature, engaging expert consultants can offer specialised knowledge and fresh perspectives without the long-term commitment. For instance, during transitional phases or when testing new initiatives, temporary senior placements enable organisations to maintain continuity and innovation while avoiding overcommitment. This approach is particularly valuable for senior or niche roles, transitional periods, or projects requiring adaptability.

Messaging

A lack of robust internal communication is often a leading cause of failed senior hires—whether due to deals falling through or new leaders departing prematurely. Poor communication and the resulting bottlenecks can disrupt onboarding, create friction, and ultimately lead to dissatisfaction and turnover.

Learnings from over 800 candidates interviewed this year highlight the vital role of communication in hiring processes. Candidates consistently emphasise the importance of clarity regarding their status and how their candidacy is perceived internally. Transitioning roles is a significant risk for candidates, just as integrating a new hire can be unsettling for businesses.

Clear and consistent communication across all sides of the hiring equation fosters alignment among stakeholders, reduces uncertainty, and smooths transitions. By defining target audiences and crafting precise messaging, organisations can ensure hiring and restructuring initiatives are executed efficiently and successfully.

In challenging markets, opportunities abound for those ready to act decisively. The successful implementation of these principles is significantly enhanced when businesses partner with specialised and experienced external resources.

As a trusted strategic talent partner to the art world, we bring industry-specific insights, and an impartial perspective to streamline processes and optimise outcomes. By taking the time to deeply understand the market and each client’s unique circumstances, our team are poised to deliver tailored guidance throughout every stage of the hiring process, helping our clients build the structures and capabilities needed to adapt, grow, and thrive.

If you would like to arrange a consultation with one of our senior team members, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.


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Photo Credits:

  • Ussama Azam
  • Fauxels
  • Tima Miroshnichenko