He was on his phone during the interview…………and it wasn’t the candidate.
It was the CEO/Founder of a multinational company with roots that span over half a century…
It was shocking to me and the candidate that a CEO would behave in this manner…
What a first impression for a seasoned executive who had great meetings with everyone up to that point within the organization…
The fit was strong, and the ROI was clear…
The candidate had a strong leadership background working for a variety of manufacturers and expertise in the standardization of processes, something the company lacked and desperately needed to compete outside of their immediate marketplace…
He was also excellent at developing talent. His people-centric style of leadership resonated with his potential counterparts and addressed major retention issues with the company…
It’s tough, I get it. Change breeds uncertainty, which is the reason it’s avoided. The human element is also prevalent in these cases. We are innately biased & insecure, and that influences decision making…
A few things come to mind…
1️⃣ If you’re running a company that produces a product for customer use, then you need standard processes and procedures that will exist beyond your tenure with the company. The opposite of standardization means that you’re constantly moving your goal posts based on present day circumstances, and you don’t understand the essence of succession planning. Standardization essentially allows you to effectively plan for the future, while holding people accountable. You don’t get to make things up as you go…
2️⃣ As a leader, you have to be able to trust the team under you. This sounds simple, but it’s the hardest thing for many leaders to do. They are hyper-active in areas that should be delegated to their leadership team…
3️⃣ Decency is required to succeed. It’s inappropriate to be on your phone while you are interviewing someone for a position within your company…
4️⃣ Empowering others to make decisions doesn’t diminish your authority…
5️⃣ If longevity is truly your goal, then you’ll do what it takes to accomplish that, even if it means checking your ego.
