Don't Hire Yourself!

Years ago, when preparing to hire a team member, my supervisor inquired as to  the ideal characteristics this new individual should possess.   After careful thought, I replied, "Well, someone just like me."

How wrong I was - not that I'm the only person in the world guilty of narcissistic hiring.  "Wanted - The Ideal Employee.   Someone who has the same superior work ethic as I have.   Someone who is almost as intelligent as. . .well. . .me.    Dedicated to your craft like I am.   Works the same hours, eats the same food.    Ideal, but not necessary, drinks the same Starbucks beverage as I."

And even if we are not so obvious about it - it still happens anyway.   A highly regarded peer confided in me the other day that when she hired a certain manager, she realized after the fact that she had pretty much employed an opposite gender replica of herself.

Trust me when I tell you - if two people are on each other's nerves in the workplace, chances are well above 50/50 that they are just too similar to one another.    (Want to have some fun - put two controller types on the same team - it's hours of laughs!)

As good as you are, you need to have balance in your professional life. . .and that will be provided by someone who is not only a complement to you, but to the entire team.    Ultimately, you want someone who thinks a little bit (or a lot) different than you.   You need someone with a different communication style.   Your product stands a better chance of superiority when it has been vetted both by you and by someone who is different than you.

What about the differences between you and the team member who's not so much like you?   Be open to them.   Realize that neither one of you need to be right the entire time, but with two different viewpoints examining the options, you will probably be right more than you are wrong.

The times that you just need to rest - let someone with a different style and view step in.   It will be refreshing to the team;   AND they will welcome you back because they've had a short vacation from your specific style.

The key to successful hiring is not to hire yourself. . .the key is to find someone you can trust to do their best work by teaming with you to support  every other member of the team.

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My book, "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders"  is available on Amazon Kindle for PCs, tablets and e-readers.