Archive for November 2009
Power of Like
Posted November 17, 2009
on:What is the power of like?
Well, any guesses on the number one reason why people get hired? I’ve been part of countless hire situations and the conversations about hiring always begins on things like degrees, experience, and skills. But, it ends on like.
It’s not that degrees, experience, and skills aren’t important. They are. They put you in the pipeline as a qualified applicant. The thing that will move you to “you’re hired” is the degree to which you are perceived as a “good fit” for the organization.
There always comes a moment in the hire process when the manager, recruiter, committee, or whomever is making the decision…and they decide who they like. It can happen as they talk through the process or it can happen because they know the person who referred the candidate or because the candidate was already known by the company, but even when that’s not the case, there is moment when someone finally says, “I really liked her” or “He really connected with those on the team.” It’s the moment when of all the candidates it could be, there is one that really is the one you can imagine sitting next to… imagine giving the keys or password to… imagine letting loose with clients … or even just sitting in a meeting and not wanting to smack! 🙂
And, ultimately, that is the candidate who will get the job…. and that is a very good thing. Liking those we work with is really key to productivity, profit, and tapping potential. Not liking those we work with is costly, draining, and rife with turf wars. Not liking can destroy departments and whole organizations from the inside out. None of us need more of that!
So, recognize and celebrate the power of like! It not only will drive your career but also enrich your life.