I recently responded to the LinkedIn question “How can a company attract and maintain top talent?” in this way:

“Although you’ll get many responses about technique and strategy, in my experience that’s just the beginning of the answer. There’s a significant emotional aspect to the question. In the words of the Buddha, “What comes to you comes from you.” So that’s what I’ll focus on in this answer; the emotional blockages that stop things from coming to you. Ask yourself these questions:

Are you really willing to do what it takes to attract and keep great talent?
Are you willing to hire somebody better than you? Or even better than their manager?
Does driving towards excellence scare you? Are you prepared to hire the top 10%?
Would you fit in this category?
Is there such a thing as an “overqualified” applicant?
Are you open to hiring and managing different types of people? Can you hire without baggage?
Do you make a conscious effort to show people you care – or is this just your self-talk?
Do you allow employees to make a difference? To stretch? To find the good in their work?
Do you let go of poor performers, thus making room for more good ones?
Does leadership give a hoot about people, or simply growing their bottom-line?
Is this a fun place to work or is the attitude that fun and work don’t mix?

Most importantly, think about your own experience. Why would you work somewhere or stay there?