Why 'Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill' Doesn't Work
Jack Delosa
Founder & CEO of The Entourage, Australia's Largest Growth Agency | 3X Bestselling Author | Entrepreneur & Investor |
You've probably heard the popular clichè 'Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill.' While it sounds good and makes you feel warm and fuzzy, chances are this principle is keeping you overwhelmed and burnt out as you try to do everything.
The problem with this advice is that you don't have the time or the skill to train new people on the skills they need to do their job.
If you're a business owner hiring an admin person, they should come with better admin skills and attention to detail than you. If you're hiring a marketing manager, they should have much deeper technical skills in marketing than you.
As a business owner chances you're a generalist who's strong in one or two areas like sales and marketing, or product and operations. However, whenever you're hiring for roles outside of your immediate skill set, you need to be hiring people who already have the skills needed and they can bring them in.
'Hire for attitude, train for skills' works brilliantly...if you're McDonalds. For the rest of us, we need to hire for attitude and skill.
Director at Epic Rehab Australia
6 个月This is a bit simplistic. Of course most small business owners want to hire for both but often don’t have the choice due to factors such as demand and supply, budget, lack of career progression for new hire etc. Offering training can attract a higher calibre candidate than they might normally be able to attract or afford. It also enables them to embed them the owners style, culture and processes. For skills the owner does not have to train eg marketing they can employ outside trainers/programs or even outsource that role and focus on their strengths.
Community Energy Specialist | Solar PV | Electric Vehicle & Charging Solutions | LPG | Internet
6 个月Good insight! I am totally agreeing on hire for both attitude and skill!
Community l Business Development l Personal Development |
6 个月Blake Allen