So much depends on the people we hire. I find it amazing that we usually judge on the basis of such limited information. We need to look beyond competence and look more at the inward qualities of people.
I’ve also found it valuable to include:
- Chemistry – How will they fit into the existing team? So much depends on personal relationships that good “chemistry” is essential. It is not that we want to recruit people like us, but we do want to recruit people we will like.
- Character – But perhaps even more important is trying to fathom an applicant’s character. As Walter Wright says: “It all starts with character – who we are – because who we are shapes everything we do and everyone we touch.” Linked to this, Daniel Goleman’s worldwide research with 200 organizations found that more than 80% of the effectiveness of top leaders depended on their emotional intelligence.
Obviously it’s almost impossible to really know someone’s character before they start work. But that’s no excuse for just ignoring it. We can at least try to find out what drives people and how they react in difficult situations. And it does not stop with recruitment – what about staff appraisal and development?
Pause and Reflect:
The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7).
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. (John 7:24)
How do we appraise on the basis of character?
How do we strengthen people’s character?
Leave your thoughts in the comments.
– Rick James
