021 - You Just Can’t Hire Good People Anymore
Why Finding Top Talent is a Struggle and How to Fix It
Are you tired of struggling to find good employees? It might not be your hiring process that's the problem.
As a business owner or manager, you know the importance of having a strong team. But lately, it seems like no matter how hard you try, you just can't find good people to hire. You might blame it on the job market or the lack of qualified candidates, but the problem might be deeper than that. In this article, we'll explore why it can be so difficult to hire good employees and the value of team alignment in building a successful team. We'll also delve into the best and worst traits to look for in a coworker and provide some questions you can use in an interview to uncover the attitude of the person you're considering hiring. Finally, we'll discuss the age-old question: is it better to hire someone who is high in skills but low in attitude, or high in attitude but low in skills?
Why is it that we struggle to find good employees? There are several factors that contribute to the difficulty of finding top talent. One is the mismatch between job openings and the available pool of qualified candidates. Another is the fact that many job seekers are hesitant to leave their current positions due to job security concerns or the fear of the unknown. Additionally, the rise of technology has led to automation and outsourcing, which has reduced the number of available jobs in certain industries.
The value of team alignment cannot be overstated. While technical skills and experience are important, they are not the only factors to consider when hiring. It's also crucial to find employees who align with your company's mission, values, and culture. Team alignment leads to better communication, collaboration, and overall job satisfaction. This, in turn, leads to improved productivity and performance.
When searching for the best coworkers, there are certain traits you should look for. Strong communication skills, a positive attitude, adaptability, a collaborative spirit, problem-solving ability, and a strong work ethic are all valuable assets in a team member. On the other hand, negative attitudes, a lack of accountability, poor communication skills, a lack of collaboration, and unreliability can all be detrimental to team cohesion and productivity.
During the interview process, it's important to get a sense of the candidate's attitude and work ethic. Asking about difficult challenges they've faced and how they handled them, their approach to problem-solving, their reaction to feedback and criticism, and their sources of motivation can all provide insight into their attitude.
When faced with the choice between a candidate who is high in skills but low in attitude, and one who is high in attitude but low in skills, it's important to consider the long-term impact on your team. While it may be tempting to prioritize skills, a negative attitude can bring down the morale and productivity of your entire team. On the other hand, a positive attitude and strong work ethic can often lead to an employee becoming more skilled over time. Ultimately, it's important to find a balance between skills and attitude, but in general, it's better to hire someone with a great attitude who is willing to learn and grow.
In conclusion, finding good employees is not impossible, but it does require a proactive and strategic approach. By valuing team alignment and looking for the right combination of skills and attitude, you can build a strong and effective team that will drive your business forward.
There’s a saying that you hire for skill, and you fire for attitude. We know how to test for skills objectively, but how do we test for attitude and behavioral traits that will add to our culture rather than tear it apart? Listen to this episode for some interview questions you can ask to learn about a candidate’s attitude before hiring.
Show Notes
Storytime - You just can’t hire good people anymore. (0:17)
Why is it that we struggle to find good employees? (0:55)
The value of team alignment. (1:38)
Best coworker traits. (3:00)
Worst coworker traits. (3:27)
Questions you can use in an interview to uncover the attitude of the person you’re interviewing. (4:40)
High in skills but low in attitude VS. high in attitude but low in skills: who do you hire? (8:10)
Resources
Hiring for Attitude by Mark Murphy
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