The Lucky 13 Traits for Hiring Success

I help leaders in their talent acquisition/hiring efforts by conducting individual assessments of key hires (leaders, managers, and key salespeople). We’re looking for greatest strengths, greatest weaknesses, and potential to contribute in the long term.

Given that the cost of a bad hire can range from 2-15 times annual salary depending on the level of the position, any predictive validity (predicting success or failure) I can add to the process is a great help to my clients.

I’m delighted to say we’ve been right more than 90% of the time over the last 30+ years. Depending upon the position, here are the top 13 predictors of success we look for:

1. Integrity: people won't respect and follow a leader without it in the long run.

2. Intellectual capacity: people with more get more done in less time.

3. Passion for the position: loving what you do is the best motivator there is.

4. Leadership: motivating people to pursue an inspiring vision.

5. Management: achieving the vision.

6. Results orientation: holding people accountable for measurable results.

7. Team orientation: working effectively with others.

8. Assertiveness: effective conflict resolution skills.

9. Prioritization: time management skills.

10. Sales and influencing: the ability to sell ideas to others.

11. Innovation: managing risk and creating positive changes.

12. Strategic planning: seeing the big picture.

13. Professional development orientation: always learning and getting better.

How are you faring in your talent acquisition/hiring efforts? Always start with a clear “profile of success”, i.e. what are the traits that will ensure success in the position? Then you can measure those traits and increase your hiring success rate dramatically.

Remember that the best teamwork in the world won’t compensate for a weak team. A team of “A Players” will outperform a team of “C Players” nearly every time.

Don’t be a stranger. (770) 993-1129. tdockery@TheResolveFirm.com