Commentary by Dr. Whitesel: Hiring a new employee is a momentous decision that I have helped many churches and university committees tackle. Here is a list of 10 questions I try to ask with a commentary on each. The 10 questions are based upon the hiring questions from James Kerr’s article in Inc. Magazine (bulleted points by James Kerr, Inc. Magazine, 8/8/16). My thoughts are in red.
Here are 10 questions that should be used to assess the quality of the leaders in the place and to help in the selection of those to come.
By James Kerr, Inc. Magazine, 8/8/16.
(Comments in red by Bob Whitesel PhD).
1. The leader works to understand their industry and contribute to its evolution through their company’s work? You want leaders that are sincerely interested at the work at hand and those can become movers and shakers within their industries.
It is important she/he be a “mover and shaker” in the future of their field.
2. The leader communicates the firm’s vision and strategies and helps their team to better understand how they contribute to the achievement of Company goals? You want leaders that understand, buy-into and can communicate the firm’s strategies to their people.
A good communicator.
3. The leader demonstrates executive presence and is comfortable working at all levels of an organization? You want leaders that have the poise and confidence to be effective in all circumstances.
Who understands and is well read on the views of today’s younger generations.
4. The leader is an exceptional trust-builder? You want leaders of high integrity that you can be counted on.
This is a key. It should be someone of whom the committee senses they can trust to do the right thing for the team (not just for the organization).
5. The leader inspires followership and can build a strong team around them? You want leaders that people want to work for and with.
Who understands different types of leaders and can build a team with what she/he is given.
6. The leader is a thought leader that can introduce new ways of “thinking” and “doing”? You want leaders that are always pushing to be better.
Who is an ‘organic intellectual’ (Antonio Gramsci) who makes difficult ideas easy to understand, e.g. may have written easy-to-read books on difficult subjects.
7. The leader is an outstanding communicator, skilled at both listening and messaging? You want leaders that can communicate effectively, so that there is no doubt about what is important.
Does she/he listen? Or do they run headlong with their own projects.
8. The leader routinely provides feedback and coaching to their team? You want leaders that are always working to make their team better.
Are they a conflict-avoider? Do they welcome criticism?
9. The leader rewards outstanding performance and knows how to reward the “right” people? You want leaders that recognizes talent and rewards people based on results, and, not on effort or out of favoritism.
Will they ask staff to do things without compensation, because the staff will do so? Instead, will they help move an organization where staff and volunteers do not feel taken advantage of.
10. The leader can demystify complex concepts and teach them to their teams? You want leaders that can teach people how to be the best that they can be.
Someone who brings out the best in the team they are given.
Original bulleted points retrieved from … http://www.inc.com/james-kerr/top-10-leadership-assessment-questions.html
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