Attorney Angie Bagby and I were asked to facilitate a lunch-time gathering of CEO’s next week in Portland, Oregon. In preparation for this, we met yesterday with an industry leader to solicit her insights based on her decades of recognized successful leadership experience.
As is so often the case with such discussions, we soon migrated into a conversation regarding her “secret” to selecting quality people to join her growing team.
We discussed things like whether or not it is wise to hire friends, the pros and cons of hiring people from within the same industry who formerly worked for competitors, and the differences in working styles that can exist with the emerging younger generation. It was a fascinating conversation as we gleaned valuable insights from her years of successful leadership.
Finally there was a pause in our discussion and we asked her the question, “What is the one thing you consider the absolute, hands-down, most important quality you look for in the hiring process?”
And then “the clouds parted” as without pausing to take a breath she answered, “I hire the person who has an unquenchable positive attitude.”
“YES,” I almost shouted, “That’s it!”
Angie jumped in, “Yes, it really does work to hire the attitude first!”
It was like we had just discovered we were all alumni of the same college fraternity and everyone remembered the secret handshake.** We were in total agreement !!
The discussion continued as the three of talked about how a person with a great attitude can be taught the requisite skills for a specific position, that they will absorb and enhance the company culture easily, and how they will ultimately grow to become a highly valued member of the team.
I could go on and on about yesterday’s conversation, yet the limits of this email preclude doing so.
The summary of the input we received: When hiring, prioritize hiring the person with a great attitude.
Yes, there is ultimately more to it than that. But simply said, nothing is more important than attitude.
Period.
Confirmed, once again: Attitude is the secret to success.
**PS – Yes, I do know that fraternities don’t include women. But there was just no way I was going to write, “…from the same sorority.” There are limits…