As a global company, we are committed to building a diverse and innovative organization that reflects the customers we serve and the communities in which we operate. This commitment also honors the voices of our employees around the world. We couldn’t do this without our Talent Acquisition (TA) team, which plays a pivotal role in our business success by attracting and hiring the top talent for our organization.

In celebration of Global Talent Acquisition Day, we are excited to spotlight our TA team! We talked with Kathy Thorman, Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor for Specialized Products.

What inspired you to pursue a career in talent acquisition?

I was working in marketing research when my company was sold. I had a colleague who had made the transition to recruiting. These career paths have very similar skill sets – a natural curiosity, a joy of meeting and understanding people’s needs, and good listening skills. It has been a joy to impact people with new employment that has the power to change their lives.

What are some of the biggest challenges the TA team faces, and how do you overcome them?

Over the past few years, the job market has experienced significant volatility. Our ability to keep up with the latest trends in employment and stay agile has been crucial. While Leggett & Platt may not be a household name, our products touch most households in some way. We have a compelling story of progress and change with integrity that resonates with candidates seeking stability and honesty in the workplace.

How do you ensure consistency in the recruitment process across various regions?

We have a complete and in-depth process map used by all TA team members across divisions and regions. As business operations change and improve, we update our vision with new information and thorough training.

How do you foster collaboration and communication within a geographically dispersed team?

We have a great leadership team that fosters communication through regular team meetings, quarterly updates, and shared team chats that bring everyone together.  We are a tight-knit group, always looking to help and collaborate with one another. Our leaders’ open-door policy extends communication from the bottom up and top down.

How do you collaborate with other departments to understand their hiring needs?

We promote and maintain relationships with our Hiring Managers in each of our recruiting areas. We are also closely aligned with the HR Business Partners at the sites and the HR Directors for the divisions. This strong partnership leads to a synergy of efforts to provide candidates for current opportunities and coordinate the vision for upcoming workforce planning.

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Thank you to Kathy and our entire Talent Acquisition team for your dedication and hard work in ensuring we have the best and the brightest at Leggett & Platt!

This month, we’ve been sharing content related to promoting wellbeing. One way to promote emotional wellbeing is to raise awareness of imposter syndrome in our work lives.

Imposter syndrome occurs when an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments despite genuine success. Many people who experience imposter syndrome feel like fakes or phonies and that their achievements are based on good fortune or timing instead of their own effort and hard work.

Imposter Syndrome can significantly impact how we perceive our work, self-worth, and social interactions with colleagues and peers. A study found that 75% of female executives surveyed reported experiencing imposter syndrome. 53% of female professionals between the ages of 25-34 are currently experiencing imposter syndrome. And it affects not only our work lives but also our personal lives and relationships. 70% of adults will experience feelings of imposter syndrome at some point in their lifetime.

We can overcome imposter syndrome by understanding its prevalence, cultivating compassion for ourselves and others, and sharing our experiences to raise awareness.

Here are a few ways you can address imposter syndrome:

Acknowledge it: Many successful people struggle with imposter syndrome. You are not alone. Recognizing and sharing your feelings with others helps normalize it.

Challenge Negative Thoughts: When you start to experience self-doubt, ask yourself whether these thoughts are valid. Are they rooted in evidence?

Practice Compassion: Be kind to yourself. Everyone has setbacks, but it doesn’t define you.

View Criticism as an Opportunity for Growth: Many people who experience imposter syndrome are perfectionists. Understand perfection is unattainable, and when you receive feedback, it’s an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Track Achievements and Celebrate Progress: Keep a record of praise and accomplishments. When you are experiencing self-doubt, reflect on these achievements and praise. Reward yourself whenever you combat those feelings of self-doubt and realize that progress proves your hard work.

Sources: PR Newswire and Forbes