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Leadership has a profound impact on individuals, teams, and organisations. It’s vital to ensure you’ve got the right people for the job.
Low morale, staff disengagement, high turnover and financial losses are just some of the flow-on effects of bad leadership. Those at the top who fail to inspire, motivate, and pave the way for success will see their business suffer.
A good leader knows how to nurture employees and invests in their professional development. They’re problem-solvers, able to adapt to change and ensure the entire organisation is aligned with its mission, vision, and values.
Ultimately, they are central to not only the business’s bottom line but also the overall wellbeing and satisfaction of staff, creating a prosperous workplace for all.
Mike Virgo, talent acquisition national manager at Coles Group, is someone who exudes all these qualities.
The recipient of SEEK’s Talent Acquisition Leader of the Year prides himself on team engagement, psychological safety and inclusion, recognising that diversity is a critical enabler of talent attraction.
His approach, described as “modest and inclusive” by staff, has enabled Coles Group’s talent acquisition team to excel in hiring at scale.
In the 2021 financial year, the team hired over 60,000 new members – a 76 per cent increase from the previous year, with an average time to hire of 20 days.
Inclusive recruitment practices led to a 236 per cent bump in disability hires year on year.
By keeping his finger on the pulse of the job market, Mike ensures his team is delivering in attracting quality candidates.
“It all starts from positioning yourself as a place where people feel comfortable, safe and confident to be themselves, whether they’re from a different ethnic background, if they’re Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or if they identify as having disability or are gender-diverse. It all starts with creating a place where people feel safe to do that,” Mike explains.
“We’ve got a dedicated D&I team, we’ve got a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support team. Even within my team, I’ve got a D&I recruitment specialist who specialises in supporting candidates through the recruitment process who may need adjustments or need a little bit of support through the process.”
There are many facets that make up the Coles Group – from the well-known supermarket chain to the popular loyalty program Flybuys, meaning maintaining company culture can be a difficult task.
Mike is able to navigate this with his team by regularly speaking with other leadership heads at Coles Group, ensuring everyone is on the same page and those that need support are provided it.
“Culture at Coles is something that every single team member owns and contributes to. I think every recruiting team has a big role, and every P&C function has a big role to play in that in terms of setting the tone. We are the frontline to the candidate market,” he explains.
“It’s making sure that we’re supporting our hiring managers and our hiring leaders across operations and our corporate space to be assessing and providing the right sort of environment through that recruitment process for people to perform at their best.
“Recruitment processes and interviews; it’s not easy. It’s our responsibility to make sure people are able to bring their best selves to that process so we can give everyone the best opportunity to find a career at Coles.
“Ultimately, it’s making sure that we’re aligned, that everything we do and stand for from a cultural perspective is reflected in our recruitment process.”
Mike is proud of the work he and his team have achieved. Coles Group was a recipient of SEEK’s Talent Acquisition Team of the Year (over 1,000 employees) category, which he says is great recognition of the efforts being made across the board.
“I was really proud and really surprised, shocked, excited, sort of everything,” he says on the awards.
“The fact that it’s an award that’s recognised by peers in the industry and that the review panel was full of some really experienced and respected TA and talent leaders from across the industry … was a huge thrill for me.”
Nominations are now open for this year’s STAR Awards. To learn more about the awards, click here.
To check out STAR winners and finalists, click here.
