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Don’t Hire a Manager Who Can’t Answer This Question

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Summary

When interviewing prospective people managers, it is important to identify what drives their employees in order to be a successful manager. A good way to check is to ask them about what demotivated the high performers on their team. The best candidates will be able to provide detailed answers about the demotivators and how they attempted to solve them. Idealists and Diplomats are more innately inclined to build relationships that will allow employees to share their demotivators. Additionally, it is important to avoid asking questions that give away the correct answer.

Q&As

What is the importance of understanding employees' motivators and demotivators for effective people management?
Understanding employees' motivators and demotivators is important for effective people management because it allows managers to recognize warning signs of demotivation and take steps to address them before an employee quits.

What is the difference between good and mediocre managers when it comes to understanding their employees?
The difference between good and mediocre managers is that the good ones know their employees well enough to understand the mounting demotivation.

What is the best question to ask in an interview to identify whether a candidate for a management role has the requisite skills?
The best question to ask in an interview to identify whether a candidate for a management role has the requisite skills is: “Give me some examples of what demotivated the high performers on your team.”

What are the two leadership styles that are more innately inclined to build relationships with their employees?
The two leadership styles that are more innately inclined to build relationships with their employees are Idealists and Diplomats.

What are some key differences between high-performing and low-performing candidates in an interview?
Some key differences between high-performing and low-performing candidates in an interview are that high-performing candidates give highly-detailed, specific answers, while lower-performing ones tend to give interview responses riddled with ambiguous and non-specific language, including an over-reliance on adverbs and a lack of concrete details.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides a great insight into the importance of understanding what motivates and demotivates employees when it comes to people management. It offers useful advice on how to discern if a candidate has the necessary skills for the job.

👎 This article does not provide an in-depth analysis of the different types of leadership styles, nor does it offer any practical tips on how to effectively manage a team.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the importance of properly assessing a manager's ability to understand and address the motivators and demotivators of their employees. It recommends asking a specific question about demotivating factors during the interview process, and suggests that managers who are able to identify and address the demotivators of their employees are more likely to be successful.

Friend: That makes a lot of sense. If a manager can't understand and address the demotivating factors of their employees, it could have a really negative impact on the team's performance.

Me: Exactly! It's important to hire managers who are not only competent, but who can also understand and relate to their employees. If they don't, it could lead to a lot of frustration and disengagement from team members, which can have an impact on morale and productivity.

Action items

Research the four major leadership styles and determine which one best fits the company's culture.
Ask potential management candidates the question “Give me some examples of what demotivated the high performers on your team” during the interview process.
Avoid adding words to the end of interview questions that give away the correct answer.

Technical terms

Interviewing: The process of asking questions to potential candidates for a job in order to assess their suitability for the role.
Leadership: The ability to influence and motivate others to achieve a common goal.
Screening & Assessment: The process of evaluating a candidate’s qualifications and skills to determine if they are a good fit for the job.
Teambuilding: The process of creating a cohesive team environment in which members work together to achieve a common goal.
Adverbs: A type of word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb.
Absolute Language: Language that is absolute and not open to interpretation.