by Colleen McCarty, VP Talent & Organization Development
In a recent meeting, the Management Team discussed traits they want to see in future hires. Half jokingly, a response of “someone who follows directions” was tossed out. Group agreement was unanimous, followed by silence. Then another voice added, “Not just literally following directions…but strategically following directions.”
What a difference the word ‘strategic’ makes. We went from unquestioned and complete obedience to someone who:
- Listens and really hears the meaning behind the clients’ request
- Considers the obvious and hidden options to determine the best way to accomplish the goal
- Gently, yet without fear, brings suggestions to the client to improve sales processes
- Lather, rinse, repeat.
But how do you identify the thinkers in a crowd of candidates? One way is intellectual curiosity. I tend to favor candidates that ask lots of interesting questions – not the standard interview questions from every interviewing article – but rather the questions that demonstrate the candidate has spent time thinking about the job, the company, the competitive landscape. I’m looking for evidence of wheels turning behind their answers. Bonus points awarded if they follow a path alien, new, or even uncomfortable to my way of thought.
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