
Do you know the difference between missionary and mercenary employees? John Hall touches on this subject in his recent Forbes article and credits Jeff Bezos with coining these terms. Understanding the difference can help you make great hiring decisions.
Basically, a missionary works hard to advance the company, while a mercenary does the minimum necessary to score a paycheck.
New Year, New Hire
At the start of the new year, you may be ready to hire new employees. Like any manager, you’ll be eager to bring missionary employees onto your team.
You may know employee types by different names, but you get the idea. You want to hire an employee who will be loyal and motivated to do their best. Every hiring manager has an opinion on how to find this type of employee.
John Hall tries to identify missionary candidates by posing a specific question. He asks them to explain the last time they “did something considerate.”
The answer to the question is certain to generate interesting answers. However, candidates may be expecting this kind of question and have a great answer, an embellished version of the truth. This tactic is especially popular as the job market is growing more competitive.
Using Psychometric Assessments
There is a better way to make a great hiring decision. With the right tool, you can anticipate an employee’s on-the-job behavior. You can do this by asking candidates to take a psychometric assessment ahead of an interview.
Rare is the candidate who perfectly matches what you are looking for. But with psychometric assessment data, you will learn if a candidate is likely to hold grudges. Assessments reveal whether a candidate is an inflexible perfectionist or generally disagreeable.
Knowing the areas of concern ahead of an interview can help you develop key questions. As you get answers, you’ll gain insight into the candidate’s mindset. This information will help you assess their ability to fit on your team.
Coaching
To make great hiring decisions, remember that the process does not end with the employee’s first day. Psychometric assessment data also provides you with valuable tips on how to train and coach your new employee.
This is especially true if your employees are members of Gen Z or Gen Alpha. Don’t allow your attitude to be swayed by the generalizations swirling about younger employees.
Generalizations about age groups and work ethic are not new. Managers report that Gen Z employees are lazy or obsessed about their quality of life. Back in the day, old-school managers accused baby boomer employees of being too cut-throat and ambitious.
While these tendencies may have applied to some individuals, not every member of a specific generation behaves the same way.
Each person brings unique strengths and aspirations to their work. You can tap into their energy by providing training in a variety of formats – printed, video and in-person, for example.
Once they understand what is expected, they may need individual coaching. One-on-one sessions can help them improve the soft skills, such as teamwork, that may need improvement.
Take the time to learn about the communication style your new employee prefers. Once again, assessments can give you needed insight.
You may be in a hurry to share information and make an assignment. But your new employee might need extra time and detailed data from you.
As you strive to make great hiring decisions, give new employees what they need. It may require extra time or effort from you. Be prepared for those demands and accept that it is part of your management role.
Be Curious
Another way to prevent an employee from drifting into mercenary mode is to understand their motivations. Employees are not always motivated by money. They may want to learn the latest technology.
Once you understand their motivation, it’s important to incentivize them. Offer them the opportunity to join an elite team if they meet all their goals for the quarter.
Management Role in the Hiring Process
All of this might sounds like a tremendous amount of work. It is!
The role of manager is often held as a reward or a position that is deserved after years of hard work. The truth is that the best managers are individuals who generate great satisfaction from helping others achieve their potential.
Keep that detail in mind as you strive to make great hiring decisions.
Photo on Pexels by Artem Podrez.