Last week I argued that service providers need to fire clients who are uncooperative or unprofitable. Plenty of ‘The Savage Truth’ readers agreed, but many asked, “How do I actually do it?”. And the truth is that it is not easy. But there are two guiding principals I have found are fundamental for this to work out well.
Tag Archives | Selling Exclusivity

Need to fire a deadbeat client? Here’s how…

Two killer questions great recruiters ask every time
If you have plans to be a great recruiter, please, remember this and never forget it. Filling a job does not start with finding good candidates for a particular job order. It starts with the quality with which you take the job order in the first place. It does not matter if you take the [...]

15 reasons why ‘exclusivity’ is in your clients’ best interests
I have written before on the farcical chaos that results when recruiting clients engage multiple recruiters to work on the same job order. And I have offered advice on how a recruiter should sell exclusivity to clients to ensure this does not happen. But as the market improves, maybe we need to focus on a [...]

10 massive blunders I have made in recruitment
Running a great recruitment business is difficult. The competition, the compliance, the cash flow issues and most of all, the people complexity creates an ideal environment to screw up. Here are 10 of my biggest blunders, some of which I have made several times. I offer them up as a guide on what NOT to [...]

Recruiters: This is how you sell exclusivity to clients
A great recruiter will be totally articulate in positioning why a client is doing themselves tremendous harm by getting recruiters to compete. By all means, let recruiters compete for a client. No problems there. That’s capitalism at its finest. But we should not compete on the same job. That is just dumb business by all [...]

Why clients give out orders in competition… and why it’s wrong for everybody!
There is an elephant in the room when it comes to the basic business model of our industry. People don’t talk about it much, yet it’s a fundamental flaw in the relationship between client and recruiter, and it drives poor service and lack of satisfaction for all parties. Multi-listing of job orders across multiple agencies, [...]
Greg Savage & The Savage Truth
Greg is the founder of leading recruitment companies Firebrand Talent Search, People2People and Recruitment Solutions. He is an established global leader of the recruitment industry and a regular keynote speaker worldwide. Greg provides specialised advice for Recruitment, Professional Services & Social Media companies.
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No, you are not ‘running late’, you are rude and selfish
June 7, 2010
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“God, I hate recruiters!”
March 2, 2011
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Sorry guys… women are better recruiters than men
December 6, 2011
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Being a recruiter rocks!
April 20, 2011
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Are you a LinkedIn liar?
March 27, 2012
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Suck it up princess. This is as good as it gets
May 14, 2013
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Into Africa. A recruiting safari.
May 6, 2013
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Recruiters! Stand Proud!
April 30, 2013
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Recruiters are liars and scumbags. Google says so.
April 16, 2013
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The Savage Truth gets even more Savage!
April 5, 2013
- Diana: Very true article indeed! I'm in the same situati...
- Mark S: I believe "leadership" is a misnomer in this cas...
- Ryan Harding: Greg- Thank you for sharing this! I have never be...
- Angela Roberts: Greg, great points – thank you for having the co...
- Phillip Kay: Hi John, I find it strange that for someone wh...
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Greg Savage – Feedback
I have great respect for your outstanding knowledge of the recruitment industry not only within Australia but globally. Your direct presentation style is insightful, entertaining and relevant; always adding value through addressing the fundamentals of what is essentially a simple business model which is often over complicated through a misunderstanding of how to adjust in times change.Peter Gleeson - Executive General Manager, Executive Recruitment, Chandler Macleod Group
It amazes me that time and time again whenever we have Greg present, our delegates cannot ever get enough of him! They always want a repeat. No matter at what business level within our industry Greg presents to and no matter the theme, he consistently delivers a very powerful message that addresses the fundamentals of what we as individuals are about in business and how to succeed. To be able to capture that ‘spirit’ in people and channel it towards a common goal in the work place is done with genuine passion and a true belief that all things are possible. Greg’s own story and success is testament to that, with the added bonus of never being shy of sharing his own business highs and lows. His knowledge knows no bounds. From a conference organiser’s point of view, Greg listens to the brief, is keen to know his target audience and is very thorough with his research, submits his synopsis in a timely manner and is extremely professional and accommodating on the day in regard to AV, sound checks and scheduling. (as one would expect!)Claudia Gray - RCSA Learning Centre & Major Events Manager
Greg has been one of the best speakers for the Recruitment Industry that I’ve seen. He is passionate, innovative, and highly knowledgeable about where the future of our Recruitment Industry is heading – I aligned strongly to his thinking and ideas about clients, candidates and our own beautiful Recruitment Industry that he obviously loves so much! He is an icon in our space, and I always walk away from his presentations with some great ideas and inspiration to transform.RCSA Conference Delegate 2012
Greg's style, message and insights into a recruitment industry under pressure, are both confronting and inspiring. With passion, Greg pulls apart what we shrug off as 'candidate care', 'margin', 'business development' or 'tough times'. And he refuels the fire that industry leaders are using to drive growth, value and profitability into this new era of recruitment. NPA Worldwide is a cooperative of 400 specialist owner-managed recruitment businesses around the world. Greg Savage spoke at our Sydney NPA conference, attended by 100 agency owners and consultants from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Asia and the US.Geoff Crews - Director, Forsythes Recruitment Direcåtor; and Director NPA Worldwide
Greg, As always you go over and above. Thank you for your time, professionalism and complete openness during your recent presentation at the RCSA PEARL Consultant Forum. I know that our members always value what you have to share with them, be it leadership, recruitment skills or business focused. I have had a number of people attending the event comment that your session was loaded with practical examples, was full of pragmatic advice, and showed your passion for and experience in the industry. It was wonderful to be able to work with you again.Christina Pargeter - RCSA Learning Centre Regional Coordinator, Sydney, Australia.
Greg was the consummate professional who delivered exceptional content, customised to our local conditions, despite being on the road the length & breadth of SA for two sessions per day, three days out of four. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him in the lead up to the event and greatly appreciated his assistance in generating interest and support for the seminars via his extensive social media network. The feedback from our delegates was amazing and I’m confident that they will take Greg’s savage truths onboard in realising the need to step up their games and become talent magnets within the new reality of global talent management. Judging by the positive reaction, and the success of these events, I think APSO and Greg will be working together in the future!Natalie Singer - APSO Chief Operating Officer, Johannesburg, South Africa.
You have the ability to encourage people to explore new ways of doing business and how to engage effectively with people and staff at all levels. Your ideas and training sessions have been received extremely positively with our staff over the years. Through your training we have achieved the desired outcomes and built stronger relationships with our clients. Your executive coaching style is both engaging and empowering. When I have left your seminars I know I will have a better understanding of the challenges business face and how to understand and implement ways to improve and overcome future challenges.Paula Watts - Director, Law Staff (NZ) Limited
The speaker I was most looking forward to was Rachel Botsman, and she certainly didn’t disappoint, but I have to admit it was Greg’s presentation I’ve been speaking about most to others this week. Perhaps the best use of social media I’ve seen anywhere – and I say that as a business coach who specialises in social media!Barry Thomas - Business Technology Coach, Altus
Greg is a passionate, forthright, risk-taking commentator who is single handedly educating the recruitment industry to perform & be accountable. He would get the starring role as the “pistol whipper” should any cowboys mosey into his town. Greg Savage should be knighted for his work in this industry; he is demanding delivery of excellence, holding us accountable; elevating our standards and scaring off the pretenders. He’s teaching us to work diligently and intelligently to earn the respect of our clients; not just expect a fee for services.RCSA Conference Delegate 2010
Greg presented to my senior leadership team of business bankers at our half-yearly conference on the topic of “Driving Business Growth Through Exceptional Leadership”. He delivered an outstanding presentation that was rated by the attendees as the best of the conference. He was able to bring to life some simple yet effective insights on people leadership and exceptional customer practices from his 30 years in business and triggered much discussion for the remainder of the conference. A very valuable experience for all who attended.David Tonuri - State General Manager, National Australia Bank

