🌶️ Hire Right: The Tale of Uber in 2017
lots and lots of controversies
What does it take to hire the right team?
We often think technical skills are the most critical factor when it comes to hiring talent, but character strength is often what makes or breaks a team.
The challenge for many of us is seeing beyond skills and qualifications to understand the true character of potential hires and colleagues.
Understanding Its Importance
Assessing character strength is essential because it directly impacts teamwork, productivity, and workplace culture.
Technical skills can be taught, but character traits like honesty, resilience, and consistency are much harder to change.
The Tale of Uber in 2017
Let's look at a modern example: In 2017, Uber, one of the world's leading ride-sharing companies, faced a massive scandal involving allegations of a toxic work culture.
Reports surfaced about sexual harassment, discrimination, and unethical practices.
The root of the problem? A lack of character assessment at the leadership level. The focus had been on rapid growth and technical prowess, neglecting the importance of ethical behavior and strong character.
This scandal began with a blog post by Susan Fowler, a former Uber engineer, who detailed her experiences of sexual harassment and the company's inadequate response.
Her story triggered an internal investigation, revealing widespread issues within Uber's corporate culture. Employees reported instances of harassment, bullying, and a general lack of accountability among the management.
Uber's rapid rise to success had prioritized aggressive expansion and technical innovation over fostering a healthy work environment.
This oversight led to a culture where unethical behavior was tolerated, and employees felt unsupported. The fallout from the scandal was severe: top executives resigned, including CEO Travis Kalanick, and Uber's reputation suffered immensely.
Recognizing Key Signs
Here are practical tips for evaluating character strength during interviews, team projects, and everyday interactions:
1. Consistency:
Look for consistency in a candidate's past behavior.
During interviews, ask about situations where they had to demonstrate integrity or resilience. Inconsistencies in their stories can be a red flag.
For instance, ask about a time they faced a significant challenge at work. Did they stick with their values, or did they compromise to achieve a goal?
Consistency in upholding one’s values, even under pressure, is a strong indicator of good character.
2. Honesty:
Honesty is a cornerstone of strong character. Observe how candidates talk about their past experiences. Do they take responsibility for their mistakes, or do they blame others? An honest person will admit their faults and discuss what they learned from their experiences.
Consider the story of Warren Buffett, who values honesty and transparency in his business dealings.
He famously said, "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it."
Buffett's commitment to honesty has earned him immense trust and respect in the business world.
3. Resilience:
Assess how candidates handle setbacks. Resilient individuals bounce back from failures and use them as learning opportunities. During team projects, observe how colleagues react to criticism or obstacles. Do they give up easily, or do they persist and find solutions?
Applying These Insights
Understanding character strength is just the beginning. Implement these insights in your professional settings:
During Interviews:
Ask behavioral questions that reveal how candidates have handled ethical dilemmas, failures, and teamwork in the past. Look for consistent, honest, and resilient responses.
In Team Projects:
Pay attention to how team members communicate, handle criticism, and support each other.
Foster an environment that values integrity and resilience by setting clear expectations and leading by example.
Everyday Interactions:
Build relationships based on trust and mutual respect.
Recognize and reward behaviors that demonstrate strong character, such as taking responsibility, being transparent, and supporting colleagues during tough times.
Wrapping it up
In short, assessing character strength is crucial for a thriving work environment.
By focusing on consistency, honesty, and resilience, you can build a team that is not only skilled but also trustworthy and dependable.
The true test of a human’s character is what he/she does when no one is watching.
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The insight on assessing character strength is equally useful for those going into an interview themselves. Use these points to determine if this is a place you want invest your time and energy. It's critical to not chase status. Go somewhere that allows you to fulfill your potential.