What I’m Looking for Isn’t on Your Resume

Some of the most important qualifications I look for in new hires are not listed in candidates’ resumes. And yet, these qualifications can make the difference between a successful hire. Even more important, they can make a difference between achieving our business goals and being tomorrow’s headline.

I’m talking about the essential character traits that make a successful leader.  For me, there are six such traits and they form what I call my “Pyramid of Principles.” Professional qualifications aside, these are the essential characteristics that I look for in the people I hire or bring into my teams.

Pryamid Of Principles

  1. The first one is integrity, which means you do things right, legally, ethically, and in a way that others will follow you on the right path. This is hugely important to me. I believe that anyone who has worked with me has always understood that I prize integrity andresults, fully linked together. I don’t care about how good you are, how smart you are, or how well-educated you are. If you don’t have integrity, I don’t want you on my team. It boils down to this: The people who work with you must have no doubt that you will do the right thing, whether anyone is watching or not.
  2. The second thing I look for is credibility, which is closely related to integrity. It means you do what you said you were going to do. It’s about winning the confidence of others that you are true to your word.Integrity and credibility are not “sometimes” attributes. They require consistency. We are all human beings and we make human mistakes, like missing a deadline. If this occurs once in a blue moon, there’s no harm done. But if it’s a regular occurrence, credibility starts to diminish, and your reputation suffers irreparable harm.
  3. Having a positive attitude is hugely important. Otherwise, when you face a big obstacle, you’ll be crushed. I look for people who are focused on the right goals and who have a relentless commitment to accomplishing them. The tougher the assignment, the more fiercely dedicated they become. I want people who bring the requisite skills to get the job done and who have a terrific attitude. It is not either/or. It’s both that put you at the peak of performance.
  4. Teamwork. Business is a team sport. You have to be a team player, period. Team players equate personal success with team success, especially if they are in a leadership position. They are quick to credit colleagues and subordinates. For these individuals, winning is always about us.
  5. Excellence. I look for people who strive for excellence every day on the job. People who come in thinking how they can make the business run better today than the day before. These are people who set stretch goals, drive for results the right way, and outperform the competition.
  6. Vision. I believe that we all want to be part of something greater than ourselves. We want to be personally successful. We want to be part of a winning team. That’s why I look for leaders who are driven by a vision and who are able to articulate it so clearly that people on their team will be energized by it and will go through extraordinary challenges to achieve it.

I find that having a well-defined set of principles is very helpful not just in selecting the people I hire but also in terms of aligning conduct for my organization overall.

That’s particularly important when you work internationally.

The time I spent with BellSouth Latin America drove home the importance of doing this. We were a U.S.-owned business operating in multiple international markets. The culture was different, as was the language. So I always had a “values conversation” with my direct reports and their direct reports, and went over character traits I’ve described. That way we ensured we had a consistent culture no matter what language or what country we operated in.

The six principles I’ve discussed reflect my personal values as a leader.  You may have a different set. What’s important is that you define them clearly and keep them in mind as you look for leaders who can help you achieve your organization’s objectives.

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