Hire for Culture, Train for Skills

In the books First Break All the Rules and Now Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham and the Gallup Institute state that positive reinforcement is a great way to motivate people. It creates much better results than what we might call the “traditional” threatening manner of some employers.

What is important to understand is that Culture and Skills are not the same. Culture comes from within — Skills come from training.

It can take years to modify or change Culture in a person or a nation. Skill, on the other hand, can be taught at a much faster rate.

When I say, “Hire for Culture,” I mean selecting your team based on the way they approach a problem, the way they react to a situation, the way they face failure. Hire someone who is a “culture fit” first, then focus on helping them sharpen the skills they have, or gain the skills they need.

Culture is learned for life, skills are learned for tasks.

BEFORE YOU GO:

We see our blogs as opportunities for dialogue. Please share your thoughts as comments.

1. What cultural components do you look for in new hires?
2. What key questions have you asked regarding a culture fit?
3. What other guidance or resources do you have at this time?

_____

Faris Alami is Founder and CEO of International Strategic Management, Inc. (ISM). He works internationally, presenting Exploring Entrepreneurship Workshops and other entrepreneurial ecosystem — related ventures.