How to Use Core Values to Hire A-Players

Mark Murphy is the author of “Hiring for Attitude.”

Here’s what he says in an interview with Forbes about hiring and core values:

“When our research tracked 20,000 new hires, 46% of them failed within 18 months.  But even more surprising than the failure rate, was that when new hires failed, 89% of the time it was for attitudinal reasons and only 11% of the time for a lack of skill.  The attitudinal deficits that doomed these failed hires included a lack of coachability, low levels of emotional intelligence, motivation and temperament.”

You can read the full interview here:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2012/01/23/89-of-new-hires-fail-because-of-their-attitude/#47f875e7137a

The message for today is this:

The hard stuff is easy!

That means that the hard stuff (competence issues) isn’t complicated.  Most people can learn a skill if they have the right attitude.

The hard stuff is comparatively easy.

Hard stuff may involve coaching and training.  However, hard stuff can be overcome.

Anyone can:

  • Take a computer course
  • Qualify for a new skill
  • Listen to a podcast
  • Read a book
  • Attend a class
  • Find a mentor

Once the person has taken a class, they are now qualified to drive the forklift or be the safety officer or use Excel.  Easy.

The soft stuff is hard! 

Soft stuff includes:

  • Teamwork
  • Trust building
  • Conflict resolution
  • Coaching
  • Overcoming hurt feelings
  • Dealing with under performers

These are the issues we all dread.  We’re not worried about teaching someone how to drive a forklift. But we do stay awake at night wondering how we’re going to approach our best forklift driver and confront him about his toxic attitude to his co-workers and customers.

What will we do if he leaves?  His position is hard to fill at the moment, plus he’s a really good driver.  In addition, he has a history of reacting badly to feedback.

We all hate this stuff.  It’s called drama, and it’s what make our lives as leaders suck.  We long for it to be gone.

Source people who already share your values

This is where hiring for core values comes in.  If you hire someone right out of the gate who doesn’t think like that, you never have to deal with the downstream problems resulting from their immaturity.

This is why you should make it your job to be on the lookout for outstanding people wherever you go.

When you’re in line at your favorite coffee shop, keep an eye out for who is great at customer service.  If they share your values, they should be working for you!

When you’re dealing with suppliers, take note of who is responsive and ‘on it.’  Reach out to them if you sense that they share your values.

Even customers can be potential employees for you.  If you love them and they love your way of doing business, get to know them better and make them an offer.

When you hire people who share your values, many of your people problems melt away.

You can teach a person a skill, but it’s very difficult to teach values to anyone.  Their values are set when they’re young.

Screen for core values during the interview

If you aren’t able to find people that you already know to fill the role, make sure you screen for values during the interview process.

I recommend that you are clear on the values you are looking for.  If you haven’t set the core values of your organization, you can find out how to do that here:

https://www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/resources/how-to-discover-the-core-values-of-your-organization/

Once you’re clear on what your values are, look for a match.  Here are some things to look out for during the interview:

  • How has the candidate treated co-workers in the past?
  • Find out what their ‘low points’ were in their past role. These point to their values
  • Find out what makes them angry at work. When your values are violated, it makes you mad
  • Ask what they’re looking for in a workplace. Usually a person is looking for a values match.  Do their values match yours?
  • Have others involved in the interview process so they can assess the candidate for values too.

Remember when bringing on a new team member that, if they don’t work out, 9 out of 10 times it will be over a values issue, not a skill issue.

Hire for values, train for skill.

In summary:

Many of your people issues will simply disappear if you focus on hiring people based on values, not only on skillset.  Screen for values when hiring, and you’ll be far head of the game.

Remember:

  1. The hard stuff is easy
  2. The soft stuff is hard
  3. Source people who already share your values
  4. Screen for core values during the interview

Thanks for reading this article on ‘How to use core values to hire A-players’  Below are additional resources from Professional Leadership Institute, the global provider of online human resources and leadership tools:

Trevor Throness is a speaker, consultant, and author of “The Power of People Skills.”  He is also co-founder and senior instructor at www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com https://www.professionalleadershipinstitute.com/

Find more about “The Power of People Skills” here: https://www.amazon.com/Power-People-Skills-Dramatically-Performance/dp/1632651068

Recommended Resources:
 

Uncover your strengths and weaknesses with our complimentary assessment. Boost your effectiveness at work and with your team.

Free Resource Library
Access our extensive collection of valuable resources for instant support in your personal and professional growth.

Explore Our Course Library
Enhance your leadership skills with our diverse selection of courses. Take your abilities to the next level and become a more effective leader and team player.

Testimonials

Our Clients Love the Professional Leadership Institute

Your team will, too! Check out some reviews from our students.
The PLI program was invaluable to our network.
The range of topics delivered, the open dialogue, experience, and examples that PLI brought to each session were outstanding and provided a path for our Franchisees and Managers to look at leadership, coaching, and connecting with their teams in a new light. Many have implemented these strategies in their bakeries and have seen immediate results.
Michelle C.
COBS Bread
Highly recommend to help your team move forward
We have locations around BC and Alberta, so getting people on the same page can be very difficult... Until now. Our entire management team and location managers take the same great courses and then meet monthly online with our coach to apply it to our situation. People are engaged, the courses are excellent, we love our coach, and we are all learning together!
Jason Fawcett
President, Kelson Group
The result has been a transformation of our culture. 
We decided to implement PLI's strategies across the country in over 150 locations and over 3500 employees.  The result has been a transformation of our culture.  People's lives have been positively impacted - professionally and personally.  Morale is high and sales and profits are up as a result.
Daryl Verbeek
Daryl Verbeek
We’ve learned how to fix ongoing personnel issues once and for all
The roadmap laid out set our business up to quintuple in sales.  We've learned how to fix ongoing personnel issues once and for all, attract top talent, and spend our time focused on results, not internal staffing problems.  I highly recommend PLI to you - it's worked for us!
John DeJong
Satisfied Client
I had no idea that running a business could be this fun!
In less than 18 months of working with Trevor, he has transformed my business from being average to exceptional, where mediocrity is not acceptable, where being great is standard.  Working with PLI has allowed me to realize my dream of not simply owning a job, but owning a business.
Justin Bontkes
Principal, Caliber Projects
Our culture has taken major steps forward this year
Our culture has taken major steps forward this year with Trevor’s help.  He is funny, relatable, and his tools are very very practical and have helped us focus and upgrade our teams throughout our retail network. Trevor recently spoke to an employee group, and one person remarked, “I could listen to Trevor all day.”   We would highly recommend Trevor.
Stan Pridham
Founder, KMS Tools
The results have been remarkable
At first, we resisted, “This just won’t work with a law firm.” But we persisted and the results have been remarkable: our client base and profits have steadily improved, and staff engagement and morale is the healthiest its ever been.
Doug Lester
Partner, RDM Lawyers
Helped our fast-growing business become what it is today
I've experienced PLI's approach first hand and it's been crucial to sustaining our growth.  I can't imagine a business that wouldn't benefit greatly from his help.
Brian Antenbring
Founder, TEEMA
Provided practical ways to make positive changes
Trevor was incredibly well-received by the entire organization. He was able to articulate people issues that many of our franchisees were experiencing and provided them with practical ways to make positive changes. We have implemented the Star Chart tool across the organization and see it as vital to building happy, effective teams.
Aaron Gillespie
President, COBS Bread
Scroll to Top

Start Learning Today

For Individuals

Unlock your potential and accelerate your career with sought-after management and leadership skills.

 

Transform Your Organization

For Teams

Book a consultation to discuss your challenges and discover how we can help you build a winning team.

 

Sign Up For Weekly Tips!

Get Weekly Coaching Tips Straight To Your Inbox Every Monday.