Using Masterminds and Events to Attract Top Talent Without Sounding Like a Recruiter

So the big question is this, how do recruiting leaders like us who have 12 to 15 other job responsibilities win at this game of recruiting? How do we build a system that allows us to recruit effectively in a minimal amount of time while motivating recruits towards meaningful change? That is the question, and this podcast will give you the answers. My name is Richard Mulligan, and welcome to Recruiting Conversations. Hey everybody. Welcome back to Recruiting Conversations. I'm Richard Milligan.

And today we're talking about one of the most underrated recruiting tools that almost no one is using the right way. Events and masterminds. Now, when I say event, you might be thinking big conference branded, happy hour, splashy dinner. And those can work, don't get me wrong. But what I'm talking about is something smaller, smarter, more strategic events that position you as the attractive leader without

ever having to say you're recruiting. This is a strategy I've coached dozens of recruiting leaders on, and when it's done right, it builds trust, creates momentum, and fills your recruiting pipeline without ever feeling sales or pushy. So let me set the stage. Most people think recruiting has to be a direct pitch. Come join my team. Lemme tell you about our comp plan. Let me show you our tech stack. And the problem is the best talent. They've heard all that before.

They've got five other companies knocking on their door saying the exact same thing. So if you're going to win the top 20%, you've gotta show up differently. One of the best ways to do that is by curating conversations instead of chasing conversions. That's what a mastermind or small event allows you to do. You're not inviting someone to hear about your opportunity. You're inviting them into a room where they can grow, learn, connect. Share ideas with other high level producers or leaders.

And when you do that well, the shift starts to happen. They stop seeing you as just another recruiter, and they start seeing you as a resource, a connector, a leader worth following. So let's get practical. How do you do this? First, you need a clear reason for gathering people. That means your mastermind or event has to solve a real problem or offer real value. Let me give you a few examples. I've seen work. A round table for top producers on how to protect margins in a tightening

market, a small mastermind on building referral relationships, a virtual lunch, and learn about AI tools for loan officers and in person breakfast on building a sustainable personal brand. These are topics that producers care about, and that's the key. This isn't about you, it's about them. Now, once you've chosen your theme, you move to step two, inviting the right people the right way. And this is where most leaders mess it up.

They'll say something like, Hey, we're hosting a recruiting event next week, and boom, you've lost them. Instead, you need to frame it like this. I'm bringing a small group of top producers together to talk about how to finish the year strong. No sales pitch, just great conversation with people who are growing. Would you be open to joining us? See how different that feels. There's no pressure, no awkward sales energy. You're inviting them into community, into growth.

Into something bigger than just one-on-one recruiting. And here's the secret. Top los want that.

They're often stuck on an island. They want to share ideas, hear from peers, feel challenged again. And if you're the one curating that environment, you immediately become more than a recruiter. You become their leader before they ever join your team. That brings me to step three, how you facilitate matters. You don't need to be the smartest voice in the room. You just need to be the host. Great facilitators do a few simple things. They ask great open-ended questions.

They spotlight others in the room. They pull insights from the group, not just themselves, and they close with an invitation to keep the conversation going. That last part is where you create natural follow up. Let's say someone shares a pain point about time management or team accountability after the event, you send them a resource, a book, or a short video. Hey, I really appreciated your insight during the Mastermind.

You mentioned struggling with X. Here's something that helped me personally. That's recruiting. Without recruiting.

That's how trust is built. That's how relationships grow. Lemme tell you a, a quick story. One of my clients hosted a small breakfast for six loan officers in her city. The topic was how to grow without burning out. She invited them personally, said it was no pitch, just a chance to hear from each other. Everyone showed up. One of the guys texted her two days later and said, that was the best conversation I've had with other LOS all year.

I've been thinking about making a move and I want to talk with you first.

And here's the kicker. She never mentioned her company once he leaned in because she showed up as a leader, not a salesperson. That's the power of using events the right way. So here's what I want you to take away from today. If you want to attract better people, create better rooms. Build tables. They want to sit at lead conversations that solve real problems and do it without the pressure of recruiting. You don't have to pitch when the value is real.

You don't have to convince when your leadership is visible and you don't

have to chase when you build spaces. People want to be in. So here's your challenge. Pick a format in person or virtual and plan a simple mastermind. In the next 30 days, invite three to five producers. Keep it tight, make it valuable, and use it to start new conversations, not close deals. If you do that consistently, you'll build a pipeline of people who trust you, respect you, and eventually wanna follow you. That's it for today's episode.

Go build the room, lead the conversation, and I'll see you back here soon on recruiting conversations. Want more recruiting conversations? You can register for my weekly email@fourcrecruiting.com. If you need help creating your own unique recruiting system, you can book a time with me@bookrichardnow.com. I.