The ancient Eastern tradition of Yoga, that may have originated as long as 5,500 years ago, might not be the first place for recruiters to gain that all important edge and boost their performance at work.

However, Leatham Green, who heads up recruitment at East Sussex County Council, while teaching Yoga in his spare time, believes that it has helped him to become a better recruiter.

Green, who is assistant director personnel and training, told Recruiter that while he didn’t “go into poses and things” at work, the techniques he has learned were valuable in his job. He highlighted Yoga’s focus on “being present rather than thinking about what you have just done or where you are going”, which he said was particularly important in recruitment where people skills and interviewing are core attributes.

“It’s about giving the person you are dealing with the full consideration they deserve,” he explained. “It’s always about making them feel you are treating them with respect and dignity as an individual.

“A lot of this is seen in great HR practitioners,” he added.
Yoga’s focus on breathing and the use of silence helps him to remain calm and measured, and to speak more clearly, even in tense situations, he added.