Here is a brief excerpt from an article by Peter Gruber for LinkedIn. In it, he explains why what he learned about Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) continues to help him select the best-qualified candidates to be and do what he needs. To read the complete article and check out others, please click here.
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When I consider a candidate, how a leader intellectually, emotionally and operationally handles failures is an attitude that is much more important to glean than merely his or her aptitude. Resiliency, perseverance, optimism, creativity and flexibility are the qualities that are paramount over successes, past titles, and pretty resumes.
Finding these characteristics gives me the confidence that this leader will likely exponentially grow and support the organization in sustaining its competitive advantage.
How do you discover this in a candidate? Listen!
I want to hear that they’re willing to share their stories around failures. Failures are inevitable – nobody bats a thousand. Does the candidate demonstrate a proclivity towards risk where the greatest opportunity horizon lies? Or, is he or she more comfortable as the incumbent, preserving the status quo – which is a sure-fire recipe for failure?
In the face of a real challenge, will this applicant foster collaboration and coordination, rather than just compromise? Will the individual demonstrate his or her ability to turn adversaries into allies both internal and external? Will this person be able to knowledge-share the intellectual capital gained from those failures to propel future success and demonstrate his proclivity for a “we” culture rather than a “me” culture? The candidate who shares stories of how he or she preserved and protected the organization when the chips were down, refusing to hear “no,” will likely hear a “yes” from me!
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To read the complete article, please click here.
Peter Gruber is CEO of Mandalay Entertainment, owner of Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Dodgers, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tell to Win: Connect, Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story, published by Crown Business.