~ by Alan W
How can one decide on the future of a potential employee, a partner, a vendor, in a formal traditional one hour session/interview/meeting? How is it possible to decide in one conversation, of about one hour, whether someone can add value to your business and its clients? And indeed whether you can add value to THEM?
Sure, decision makers, or rather the ones responsible for the business (aren't we all?) or the ones signing payslips should guide and perhaps have the final say. But, your business as a whole or at least those who will impact and be impacted by them, should also engage with them in the process of decision making on whether a collaboration is in fact able to be one that is mutually beneficial, to all involved. Get to know this human being, not just the skill or business proposition on the table. Give them the opportunity to get to know you too - the human behind the business.
Why are interviews and business meetings strictly in this one hour mould? And this thing of completing all kinds of documents, then speaking to one ‘very important person’ for an hour, then the next ‘very important person’ for an hour and then to the next level, the board member, the investor or whomever feels like the introduction and scrutiny, and so it goes. THIS IS NONSENSE, meeting of minds should be as long as it takes. Half a day, two hours now, an hour tomorrow, three hours next week, etc. Who knows, if done the right way both parties can make up their minds in the first 5 minutes! And the people that will actually WORK WITH this person should meet them - to see if it is a fit both ways, not to judge or raise any form of opinion.
An interview/meeting/pitch is not the time to assess skills/business capabilities. It is a time to get to know the other person. Both sides should feel comfortable and sure they want to be a part of the vision of the business. Both should know whether they can add value to one another and most important: to their future. Both should realise the value they can add: the business to the individual/business, and visa versa. It should be a discussion for however long it takes. In fact, we should let them also give US feedback.
No deal discussions. No, what courses have you completed, accolades you have won, and so on. No: "tell me about this project”. The first meeting of minds should be a conversation between human beings talking about human stuff. Get to know the humans (on both sides). Humans first. Then ambitions, growth, contributions (both sides), inspiration (both sides), teach (both sides). Then the role/ deliverables expected/ contributions expected.
They are listening for cues on your EX (Employee Experience), CX (Customer Experience) and overall BX (Business Experience with all who connect with you). Talk to that to convert and avoid disappointment when they become collaborators. The journey to loyalty begins as early as the prospective stage… it actually starts NOW.
Work with Alan W
“Solving niche challenges founders face”.
Illustrator: Lisa Williams (Instagram: @artist_llw)