There are a lot of smart business owners out there, but what sets the uberly successful ones apart from those that are moderately successful is the company’s approach to management and leadership. At least, that is what founder of VISA, Dee Hock, teaches us in his book ‘Birth of the Chaordic Age” and summarized in the following Fast Company article: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/05/dee2.html. And when a man of this stature speaks, I for one am willing to listen based solely on credibility. The values and principle he totes might seem like common sense, but these days, common sense is not so common. Surprisingly, it is actually quite rare. His views on hiring and promoting are especially thought provoking and are formulated in terms of priority of importance…
- Integrity
- Motivation
- Capacity
- Understanding
- Knowledge
Without quoting everything Hock has said on this subject, here is my take on why he is so, so very right… Integrity – Without integrity there is no trust, and no trust means the other 4 traits could be used to manipulate situations for one’s own (greedy) agenda. Motivation – Without motivation there is no forward thrust to make use of one’s talents to the company’s benefit. Capacity – Without capacity there is no ability to apply understanding and knowledge in real life situations. Understanding – Without understanding there is no basis for deciphering information and making sense of it. Knowledge – A lack of knowledge (although not ideal) is not the end of the world, as knowledge can always be attained if the other 4 traits are in place. So there you go – take it or leave it. However, if you’re a business owner, you might want to think twice before hiring that super smart guy who has tons of schooling and experience. Look deeper, below the surface. Do you think he will pour himself fully into his new role, roll with the punches and take the good with the bad, or will he leap at any better opportunity if the going gets rough?