Finding The Best People With One Simple Question

Businesses and organizations are always on the hunt to get the best and brightest talent out there.

Meanwhile, prospects are padding resumes with degrees and certifications, using descriptors like, “self-motivated” and “expert,” to show why they deserve top billing.

Accolades and accomplishments can certainly be appealing, and they may say a lot about how driven you are. They might even address your level of intelligence.

But, they don’t give any indication of what type of team member you are.

As a personnel manager I know used to ask prospective employees during interviews, “What would your former co-workers have to say about you?”

I have interviewed many (and even hired a few) applicants who had a laundry list of accomplishments that decorated their resumes rather nicely, but who simply could not function effectively within the context of a team.

Maybe all that “self-motivation” was simply self-ishness.  Maybe being the “expert” was more about being recognized and having the spotlight shining only on themselves.

And, maybe all those certifiable skills and degrees led them to believe that they’re never wrong about anything.

THESE attributes usually indicate someone who will be a lousy teammate.

I have found that rather than asking how talented or skilled a person is, it’s even better to ask:

How will this individual mesh with and improve our current team?

So, the best kind of talent may not be the self-promoting kind.

The best talent may be hidden like a diamonds in the rough… gems whose only advertisement is what their former teammates and co-workers say about them.

Focus on being a great teammate. If you happen to have the privilege of leading a team, foster a team mentality.

The accolades – the kind that matter – will follow.