Transforming Recruitment: Lessons from the Barbie Movie
In the wake of the billion-dollar blockbuster “Barbie” movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, we explore how it offers profound insights into corporate wisdom. Embracing diversity, nurturing talent, and adapting to change are just some valuable lessons recruiters can glean from this unexpected cinematic journey. Join us as we delve into the world of Barbie to uncover the secrets to building a positive company culture and achieving recruiting excellence.
No one has escaped the global juggernaut that is the “Barbie” movie, which takes audiences on an unexpected emotional journey. The Greta Gerwig-directed film has cleared over $1 billion globally and shows no slowing. What starts as a pink-infused romp of a movie about everyone’s favorite doll eventually evolves into a statement on patriarchal values, diversity, and our purpose as humans.
The “Barbie” movie has resonated with many not only for its messaging but also its look, practical effects, and the fact that it has made Greta Gerwig, the film’s director, a force to be reckoned with as the first female director to have a movie gross over a billion dollars. For all the fun to be found within “Barbie,” there are also valuable lessons to glean, especially for the corporate world.
Let’s dive into what we can learn from Barbie, her friends, and the summer blockbuster that won’t quit.
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion in Recruiting
One of the major aspects of the “Barbie” movie that stands out is its embrace of diversity and inclusion without being heavy-handed. We see Barbie and all her friends living it up during a sequence featuring a Dream House dance party. There are Black Barbies, Latina Barbies, Barbies with disabilities, plus-sized Barbies, and even Barbie’s pregnant friend Midge shows up to hang out. Transgender actress Hari Nef steps in to play Doctor Barbie, but there is no indication that she is transgender. She is simply “Doctor Barbie.”
The diversity and inclusion aspect of the movie simply “is” — it doesn’t appear to check boxes or gain brownie points. It is representative of a diverse population and target audience for the film.
Recruitment within organizations should follow a similar approach, as people can tell when a diversity initiative is not sincere. Organizations must embrace DEI and hire people from diverse backgrounds who can bring their unique talents and perspectives. Diverse teams foster creativity, empathy, and innovation within a company culture and can also help a company appeal to clients and customers.
When people see themselves reflected in a company’s employee makeup, they are more likely to choose that company. Some studies have found that diversity can boost productivity by up to 35%.
See More: 3 Ways Workforce Analytics Can Help Improve Diversity
Nurturing Talent and Potential
In Barbieland, women can be anything they want, from the President to astronauts to construction workers. Their talents, ideas, and dreams are nurtured.
As a recruiter, it’s crucial to understand the value of nurturing talent and recognizing potential. Mentorships can turn a budding candidate into a valuable asset for any organization. Nurturing talent and potential begins with attracting top talent in the first place. Recruiters need to identify the main attributes that would make an ideal candidate for each position and seek out employees that best fit those parameters.
Once people are hired, that nurturing shouldn’t slow but should instead shift. Current and long-time employees should be allowed to uplevel their skills, learn new skills, and grow within the organization.
Adaptability and Flexibility
When Barbie and Ken visit the Real World, they have to quickly adapt to what turns out to be the exact opposite of what Barbieland was. Although adapting to change can be challenging, it’s an important consideration for any organization, especially throughout recruitment.
The corporate landscape is always changing, and the “Barbie” movie illustrates the need for old ways to be challenged and new markets to be explored. An increased focus on diversity in hiring and a less rigid landscape with more flexibility for working parents and remote workers are just a few of the changes that have hit the corporate world in the last decade.
More change is sure to come, as change is a constant. By remaining flexible and open to adapting to these changes, organizations can remain competitive and appealing to top talent.
Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
One of the most surprising factors in “Barbie” was the number of emotional moments it held. Empathy for others ran high through the plot, with the connection between old and young, men and women, corporates and consumers, and the real and imagined, all factoring into the movie’s themes.
Empathy and emotional intelligence allow recruiters to connect with candidates on a deeper, more personal level and truly understand what they may be looking for. Recruiters can build meaningful relationships with candidates and organizations by approaching this relationship with empathy and understanding. Candidates who are shown empathy are more apt to thrive within their new role, as they have been recruited by someone who has taken the time to understand them on a more personal level.
See More: Emotional Intelligence in the Hybrid Workplace
Tech for Recruitment
Artificial intelligence is taking every industry by storm, and the “Barbie” movie received a definite boost from AI before it even hit theaters. For example, Mattel released an AI-fueled Barbie Selfie Generator tool to complement the movie’s release, and the #barbiemovie hashtag has generated massive consumer engagement, contributing to the movie’s global popularity.
Recruiters need to take a tip from the Barbie marketing mavens and learn their way around AI technology, as understanding the benefits of AI without removing the human element of recruiting is crucial in today’s corporate landscape. With AI infiltrating nearly every industry, it will be a case of adapt or die for most companies.
Overcoming Challenges
“Barbie” is full of challenges that the main characters must overcome: finding purpose, the loss of the mother/daughter connection, and flat feet among them. Overcoming challenges is part of any recruiting process as well.
In the quest to build the perfect team, there are challenges that recruiters must face and learn to overcome. With perseverance and building problem-solving skills, which often come with experience and trial and error, recruiters can face challenges head-on.
Building a Positive Company Culture
Almost as soon as the “Barbie” movie opens, it’s clear that the culture of Barbieland is exceedingly positive. Each Barbie’s individual skills, talents, and personalities are celebrated and highlighted within the movie’s first few minutes.
Recruiters play an integral role in building an organization’s culture. As such, they should focus on a candidate’s skills, values, soft skills, and personality. These factors are crucial for landing jobs and building positive and nurturing company cultures. Suppose a candidate is not a good culture fit. In that case, their entire experience within an organization can be negative — and ultimately a waste of time and money for the company.
The “Barbie” movie has quickly established itself as a major moment in the cultural zeitgeist. This Barbie right here? She’s a recruiter and knows much can be brought from Barbieland to the Real World of corporate recruiting.
With open communication, innovation, and positivity, corporations can build diverse and effective teams to elevate their corporate culture and overall success.
Have you started implementing Barbie’s valuable lessons to transform your recruitment strategy into a force for positive change and corporate success? Let us know on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you!
Image Source: Shutterstock
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