Communicate Like a Leader

CHAPTER 5

Hire Based on Core Character and Competency

When hiring key employees, there are only two qualities to look for: judgment and taste. Almost everything else can be bought by the yard.

—JOHN W. GARDNER, FORMER US SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE IN THE LYNDON JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION

Shelves are full of books that tell you how to hire well. But because this book addresses communication, I’ll focus in this chapter on the key event: the interview. Your success often depends on the emotional intelligence of those you hire in strategic positions. That means you need to make hiring decisions based on information other than gut instincts and first impressions.

You’ll want to discover the complete package you’re getting: personality ...