Two primary responsibilities of leadership are selecting people to join our team, and routinely evaluating each team member’s performance going forward from the date of hire.
These past several weeks, we have been discussing eight key characteristics for selection and evaluation of personnel, including 5 character qualities: Available, Faithful, Teachable, Enjoyable, Responsible; and 3 technical capabilities: Administrative, Communication, and Technical skills. Thus far we have discussed the five character qualities: Available, Faithful, Teachable, Enjoyable, and Responsible (click to read each previous summary).
The three technical skills included in this assessment strategy are important; yet only within the context of having first determined that the five character qualities are in place. Without character, any amount of technical skill can lead to a talented person who pushes against the organization's cultural current - rather than floating with it as a main-stream contributor.
That said, technical skills do count.
Today we are providing a bit more detail on the first (of three) technical skills: Administration. Some measure of this skill is essential for most positions in a growing company.
So let me cut to the chase and define administration by providing a list of parameters that can be objectively assessed:
- Organizational skills: Organizes multiple tasks effectively; utilizes time efficiently
- Attention to detail: Demonstrates excellence in detailed aspects of duties
- Follows procedures and guidelines: Adheres to company procedures and guidelines
- Thoroughness of work: Work is consistently more extensive than required; not satisfied with minimal work
- Accuracy and completeness: Completes work on schedule and accurately
This list can be used to rate the degree of administrative capacity that a job candidate possess; or alternately, the degree to which an existing team-member demonstrates this attribute. And it goes without saying that the specific nature of the job-function will determine the priority of this skill-set in your evaluation process.
In the weeks ahead we will continue the discussion of the remaining technical capabilities listed above.
And did I say that skill without character is a non-starter ?? Because if we have learned anything through the years, the axiom of character-first in assessing team-members is only ignored at a price. A very high price.