Issue No. 43 of Your Weekly Staff Meeting is another book and a bucket for equipping your team in the “unnatural” act of management. This week’s book is a must for your loaning library as you mentor individuals with niche books, based on their unique needs. Reminder: you can read the mini-reviews of more than 40 books at my Buckets Blog at www.JohnPearsonAssociates.com.
While it is true that you only have a 50/50 chance of success every time you hire a new team member, the interviewing and hiring process does not have to be an anxiety-ridden exercise in Russian roulette. It’s likely this week’s book slipped past you in 1992, but its unique and comprehensive management “story” (complete with a plot, interesting characters and a February 1 to May 3 company turn-around timeline) is a worthy addition to your summer reading list.
In his story, Everett T. Suters cautions managers to watch for any of the 17 red flags during the interview process. His cautionary warning signs include: 1) being late for the appointment, 2) no resume, 3) disturbing appearance, including poor eye contact, 4) poor communication skills, 5) cannot name any personal weaknesses, 6) no evidence that the person takes initiative—on their own time—to improve themselves, 7) unexplained employment history gaps, 8) low level of formal education, without a legitimate reason, 9) frequent job changes, yet little if any career progress, and 10) overqualified.
Other red flags include: 11) unsolicited criticism of former employers and managers, 12) unable to verbalize realistic personal goals, 13) little interest in the scope of the job or the future state of the company, 14) personal problems that could affect performance, 15) inappropriate concern about compensation and benefits, 16) openly expresses radical opinions, and 17) the person does not need to work.
When he spots a red flag, the author says, “I give them an opportunity to alleviate my concerns with an explanation.” The book is packed with savvy management wisdom. Read The Unnatural Act of Management: When the Great Leader’s Work Is Done, the People Say, “We Did It Ourselves.”
Your Weekly Staff Meeting Questions:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. What is the best question you have ever been asked in an interview?
2. Why is life-long learning—improving yourself on your own time—so important to an employer?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insights from the Management Buckets Workshop Experience
Whenever I interviewed a prospect for a staff position, I carefully avoided details about what I was looking for—and then about 20 minutes into the interview, I asked the greatest interview question ever.
“Joe, talk about the best job you’ve ever had. You’re driving home after work—and all of a sudden it hits you. You tap the steering wheel with a playful slap, and exclaim out loud, ‘Wow! That was a really great day at work!’
“So, Joe…tell me. What happened at work that caused that little celebration in your car?”
The response is truly amazing. Joe’s eyes light up. His interviewee nervousness disappears—and what gives him joy at work quickly oozes out. Sometimes, the very thing that breathes life into Joe on the job was exactly what we were looking for. Other times—it was the opposite, so we celebrate his passions, but we don’t hire him. I’ve never seen anyone manufacture an answer to that question. It’s the greatest interview question ever.
Your Weekly Staff Meeting Questions: The People Bucket
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.OK, for our weekly meeting today, I’d like you to gather in groups of three and tell each other what happened the evening you said to yourself, “Wow! That was a really great day at work!”
2. Does that “Wow!” happen enough in your current position? If not, what initiative should you take to increase the joy?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Future dates will be announced in June for the Management Buckets Workshop Experience (two days) and the Nonprofit Board Governance Workshop (one day) at the scenic Blue Lantern Inn in Dana Point, Calif. If your organization would like to co-host a workshop, please email me.
Download the Management Buckets brochure
PS. Click “Forward Email” below to recommend this free eNews to a colleague.
