Managers get things done through other people, therefore choosing the right people to work with you has to be one of the most important decisions. Even if you are lucky enough to have a good HR person to help you, do not delegate this task entirely. As a manager, you are the one who knows best what the new recruit will have to do, and you are the one who will have to work with him or her. Make sure you are involved in the selection process.
This can also save a vast amount of time and effort later correcting mistakes, or trying to train unsuitable people, and then finally maybe having to replace those who do not succeed. It is far more efficient to begin with the right person.
How do you go about selecting the right person?
- Start by describing the key outputs expected from the person. Be very specific about what results the person in this position will be expected to produce, because this is the basis for all that follows.
- What qualifications do they need? This could be academic or trade or other formal qualifications. Do not require more than you really need – too high a requirement means that capable people may be excluded for want of a piece of paper they do not really need. On the other hand, do not set the bar too low, or you may be flooded with applicants who are not suitable.
- What personal qualities they will need? This is where you specify things the job requires, like being able to work closely with other people, or taking initiative to work without supervision.
- What other skills or requirements there might be? You might need the person to have a driver’s license, or be willing to travel overnight to remote sites, for example.
Using our selecting the right people tool, it will help you zero in on key outputs expected, qualifications, experience and qualities they will need. Enroll today to our Managing People course to download this and more tools as well as learn practical skills on managing your team. Click here to get started!
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