6 Characteristics to Assess When Hiring New Team Members

Are the right people joining your team?

Over the years, the majority of my hires have added value to our organization. However, I have made a few poor hiring decisions!

As the leader of one of my previous organizations, one of my primary responsibilities was hiring new team members. To increase our effectiveness, we always conducted panel interviews. Our panel would interview, select and recommend candidates to fill our vacancies.

I recall one particular individual we hired that was one of those decisions. On paper, she was an excellent candidate. She had a proven track record of success. During her interview, she impressed the panel with her knowledge and skill set.

Once we hired her, we saw a different side. While her skills and knowledge where exceptional, she possed a fixed mindset. She was unwilling to embrace new ideas. As a result, her tenure with our organization was short lived.

Building a great team starts with hiring the right people.

There are six characteristics I consider when I’m hiring a new team member. They are:

1. Results-Oriented
2. Energetic and Positive
3. Comfortable with Risk
4. Growth Minded
5. Collaborative
6. Multitasking

Are you looking to build a team of people who will work together to achieve your organization’s goals? Then let’s discuss each characteristic…

Results-Oriented: Hire people who are concerned with how their efforts produce results. You don’t want people who perform their tasks robotically without giving thought to the end goal.

Energetic and Positive: Look for positiveness when hiring new people. Positivity is a natural trait, and it’s easy to observe. Positivity doesn’t mean denying reality or hiding from things that are negative. It’s a mindset that’s optimistic and ready to bring positive energy to all situations.

Comfortable with Risk: Innovation always involves taking risk. Your team members must be unafraid to fail. Hire people who are willing to take chances, have a healthy attitude toward failure, and using what they’ve learned to move forward.

Growth-Minded: Innovative team members are constantly trying to grow. They’re not just here to do a job and go home. Look for people who have a growth mindset and interested in learning and expanding their skills.

Collaborative: Make sure that the people you hire are comfortable with and enjoy working with others. Good communication skills are essential. You need this collaboration mindset in your team.

Multitasking: The capacity to handle multiple tasks at once is an essential skill in our workplace. Make sure your new team members know how to set priorities and can manage more than one project at a time.

Do your best job at asking behavioral questions during the interview process that will reveal the desired characteristics. You do this by asking for examples where the person has exhibited these behaviors in the past.

“People are not your most important asset. The right people are.”

Jim Collins

Poor hires can have a dramatic impact on the culture of your organization and its effectiveness. Therefore, hiring the right person is extremely important.

Are the right people joining your team?

Your leadership guide,
Kim

Dr. Kim Moore | Your Leadership Guide | kimdmoore.com