Successful Blog

What Great Interviewers Ask to Always Hire the Best

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Guest Post
by Riley Kissel

Insight on Interviews from Stan Duncan, SVP, Westfield

People power boils down to one thing: potential. Just ask Stan Duncan Senior Executive Vice President of U.S. Human Resources and Global Head of Management for Westfield. Rome could always have been built with enough hands, but those hands needed a dream to follow and voices to guide them. In the 20-plus years that Stan Duncan has worked with human resources divisions in several multinational companies, he’s learned a thing or two about what makes a good job candidate. He’s learned which specific resources are vital to those who are ultimately hired and, more importantly, which questions to ask those candidates.

Duncan says that it’s all about asking the candidate to tell you what they want, what they have done, what will make them successful and “why.”

According to Duncan, having a prospective employee reveal what they see as their own abilities and competence is a surefire way to not only get a raw understanding of their talents and pros and cons, but also to get an understanding of their ability to adapt and their potential to last in the long term. “We aren’t looking for super-humans; in my two decades as an HR executive, I’ve yet to meet one. We want people who are talented, but most importantly, willing to grow and change as the company grows and changes, too.” I believe people who know a lot about themselves do the best selling themselves in an interview. Basically, make sure you’re introducing yourself, presenting the real you in the interview.

Duncan is certainly not shy about his two decades’ of experience as an interviewer. That was proven when he was asked what he’s learned about hiring the right people: “Doing this for 20 years certainly helps you see the big picture; it’s all about potential.” Duncan has been around long enough to see what works for the long-term and what only succeeds in the short term, and his reflections have resulted in him founding an HR model that prizes a prospective worker’s long-term potential over short-term spunk.

“Working in human resources for companies that focus on everything from career apparel, managed services, aerospace glass manufacturing to chemical agent creation has allowed me to see what always stays the same despite the change in labor practices, techniques, and strategies. Human resources are universal in that HR personnel are always seeking out that potential for a long-term employee presence once they’re hired. That’s because longevity in employment means a stronger, more developed team, which increases the likelihood that each member reaches their potential due to the longstanding support of one another.”

The beauty of Ancient Rome would never have been erected by unorganized stone cutters with no collective vision, no matter how many were hanging around looking for work, which demonstrates the power of potential. Without a guiding vision, the kind that an institution like Westfield has and HR leaders like Duncan possess, the potential of individual talent to serve something greater is often wasted. Asking the right questions and paying close attention as human resources workers is the only way to uncover that potential and make sure the talent stays around long enough to make an impact. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your company won’t be, either. Let Stan Duncan’s success show you what can be accomplished in 20 years if you put your mind to it.
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Riley Kissel is a freelance writer who covers many industries with style. You can find out more about him at RileyKissel.com

Thanks, Riley, for new insights on a critical topic.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

SOBConNW: Portland, Oregon, Things to Do and See

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Portland, Oregon, Credit Keith Skelton PhotoAttending SOBConNW 2011, September 16-18 in Portland, Oregon?

We’ve put together an updated list of things to do during your visit to PDX, as the locales call it.

Portland was one of the first cities in the Pacific Northwest, developed before Seattle claimed its fame as a major Northwest port and destination. While other cities spread out becoming huge metropolitan centers, due to the forethinking of its forefathers who restricted uncontrolled growth, Portland has remained its small community feel while gaining a powerful reputation as the Silicon Forest.

The Portland area is home to Nike, Digital Trends, Intel, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, TecLabs, Genentech, Autodesk, TriQuint Semiconductor, Tektronix, Mercy Corps, TAZO Tea, Stash Tea, Tec Labs, Pendleton Woolen Mills, LaCie, and Webtrends Analytics, just to mention a few.

It is also home to the famous Powell’s bookstore with the main store downtown and branches around the area, a must-visit during your stay in Portland.

Portland is also proud of its natural beauty and recreational activities. Most are easily accessible from the Courtyard Marriott Lloyd Center, our SOBCon partner hotel, via bus or metro train (Trimet), or by rental or Zip Car.

Consider adding a day or two to your trip to SOBConNW to explore “Portlandia.” For more on what to see and do around Portland, no matter what your interest, see our Things to Do in Portland page.

SOBConNW Partner: Portland Courtyard Marriott Lloyd Center Hotel

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The countdown is on for SOBConNW 2011, September 16-18 in Portland, Oregon.

Portland Courtyard Marriott Lloyd Center HotelLocated across the street from the SOBConNW event at the Ambridge Event Center is the Courtyard Marriott Lloyd Center hotel, our SOBCon partner. Reserve a room now for only $129 per night, and hurry as the block of rooms is limited.

The hotel is located near the Portland Convention Center and Rose Garden and the popular Lloyd Center mall and neighborhood on the east side of downtown Portland. It’s an ideal location as it is a short walk from bus and metro train connections to the hundreds of fun things to do in Portland. The hotel also offers extensive business and traveler services including a fitness center and pool.

For more information, check out the SOBConNW Hotel and Things to Do in PDX page.

If you haven’t registered yet for SOBConNW, register now. The list is filling up.

Reach Out and Touch Someone with Your Company’s Blog

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In the small business blogging world, there are good blogs and there are not so good blogs. That being said, how would you rate your blog?

As a small business, what is your goal behind having a blog in the first place? Do you use it as an opportunity to promote your company’s products and services? Is it more of a forum for you to get things off your chest or talk to other business owners? Or is it just something you felt you had to have given your competitors have one?

Like many small businesses that sport blogs, the initiative to grow the blog is often there, but the time doesn’t seem to be. What ends up happening is the blog takes a back seat to other more important matters, the content becomes stale, and next thing you know you have a blog whose hits become less and less.

Growth is Possible

If your company’s blog is collecting dust on the Internet, there are means by which to grow it and enhance your company’s online profile.

Among the initiatives to employ are:

  • Who is my audience? – If you haven’t already answered this key question, you’d better. You can spin your wheels on your blog if you don’t know the answer to this question. In order to make your company blog stand out, you need a niche, something that sets you apart from the competition;
  • Determine the time factor – It is important as a business owner with a company blog to determine how much time and effort will go into it. If you have a marketing person/team in place, the blog typically falls to them. If not, and you are the one primarily responsible for the blog, set time limits each week as to how much time will go into the blog;
  • Good copy is imperative – Whether you are writing your company’s blog or a staff member is it is imperative that it offers good copy. Your content needs to be interesting, useful and timely. Make sure that the blog provides both current and potential customers with information that peaks their interest, is important to their lives and is up to date. Also, keep the blog postings relatively short, given that the time demands on readers are greater than ever;
  • Just as important as good copy is, your blog needs a clean look. How many blogs have you visited where the design is cluttered, hard to follow and looks like a kindergartner laid it out? If you’re not a design guru, find someone who is so that the blog looks and acts professional;
  • Reach out to others – Another key is linking to other blogs and commenting on other’s posts. When you scratch someone’s back, they will hopefully do the same in return;
  • Respond to comments – In the event you are getting comments on your blog, by all means respond to them. This shows the reader that you are engaged in the conversation brought by others, along with getting you noticed more throughout the blogging community;
  • Know your metrics – If you’re writing a daily or weekly blog but not checking the statistics, what’s the point? Company bloggers want to know how many people are clicking on the blog, what demographics do they represent, when are they clicking on the blog etc. Find the right analysis program to track your numbers and see what your traffic reports look like.

 

While these are just a few of the areas you should zero in on, remember, YOU control the look and sound of your company’s blog.

Don’t expect the company blog to itself bring in a ton of revenue, but look at it more as a component of your overall strategy to reach out and touch someone, in this case, customers.

Photo credit: thefosburyflop.com

Dave Thomas is an expert writer based in San Diego, California.  He writes extensively for an online resource that provides expert advice on purchasing and outsourcing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs at Resource Nation.

How to Market a Model-T in the 21st Century

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Understanding a Single Version Product

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Whether Henry Ford actually said, “You can paint it any color, so long as it’s black,” it underscores Ford’s success at building for a mass market. He brought together an acceptable combination of consistent quality, price, and reliability to sell 15,000,000 Model-T automobiles.

It might seem that all we need to do is find our own “Model-T” and get it to the mass market. Some companies are trying to do that. The companies that succeed understand that no product can serve a mass market in the 21st century quite the way products once did.

If you’re marketing a Model-T — a single version product — in this century, here’s how to do it in the 21st Century.

  1. Build a “Model-T” with easy to communicate benefits, such as low price and reliability.
  2. Identify a clearly defined key customer group who value for those key benefits and use them for buying criteria.
  3. Study the products that this group currently buys. Identify the features those products have in common. Look beyond the features to the benefits that each feature offers.
  4. Build relationships with the “Model-T” customer group mavens — folks who offer friends detailed advice on buying products that might compete with your “Model-T.” Get to know customer evangelists for the products that the key group is currently buying.
  5. Ensure your “Model-T” product includes all of the features that key customers value and none they have no use for.
  6. Offer it at a competitive price that requires no negotiation. Negotiate takes time and thinking.
  7. Provide fast delivery and excellent service.
  8. Allow consumers to personalize it. Make product modification easy and friendly. Offer mod kits and merchandise add-ons that lets folks feel part of a “Model-T” club for owning the product.
  9. Take care with new product versions that you don’t revise out the values that developed the customer base that you’re enjoying.
  10. Consider an exclusive brick and mortar presence and a huge online selling model. A consistent product with a simple sales story works well in an online situation. Check whether direct mail is also viable for your “Model-T.”

A single version product that fits its customers perfectly can make a new market happen. The “Model-T” model still has a place in the 21st century.

Take for example the Kindle.

What products might you call the “Model-T” of the 21st Century?

Be irresistible.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

Influence: Do You Know the Value of a Single Dissenting Voice?

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Group Influence Is Power

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It used to happen all of the time in publishing. I’d set up one-to-one meetings with key individuals to discuss product prototypes. They’d offer their candid feedback. I’d incorporate what I’d learned into the next iteration of the prototype and do it again, until I was certain I had all of their concerns ironed out and a strong version of the proposed product ready for review.

At the review meeting, the same people would gather to discuss the “final” version of the prototype. I’d begin by stating the history of how the prototype was developed, who had participated, and what sorts of input had been gathered. We’d walk through the features and benefits of the product and open the floor to discussion.

The guy with the most powerful voice would say something like, “I’m not sure that cover works for me,” though he’d loved the cover the last six times he’d seen it. The person next to him would tilt her head and say “It’s always bothered me, too.” And suddenly, the entire group was agreeing that the cover — which each of them had discussed and signed off on individually — was a disaster.

What happened?

Influence: Do You Know the Value of a Single Dissenting Voice?

Anyone who’s managed a focus group knows that they’re serious business and even with the most practiced moderator, the group can easily go off track – to offer up information that reflects something in the group dynamic rather than a true representation of how each individual thinks about a given question.

What happened in the meeting I described that made every person see the cover differently? How had the power of the group influenced their thinking? Did the individuals believe what they were saying? Had they forgotten their original opinion? Were not invested before or had they changed their minds?

What makes us not see what we see and know what we know when we’re alone become something different when we’re together?

I learned a little about this sort of influence a few years ago … from a psychologist who taught at Loyola University. “In the 1950s, Dr. Solomon Asch of Swarthmore College asked groups of students to participate in a “vision test.” All but one in each group were confederates in the experiment (the confederates knew what was going on). Asch was testing how likely individuals are to conform with a group opinion even when the group is obviously wrong.

The method of the Asch test:

  • The participants were all seated in a classroom.
  • The group — one real participant and the confederates — were asked questions about the lines on two cards. Possible question might include:
    • How long is line A?
    • How does the length of line A compare to the length of [everyday object]?
    • Which line is longer than line A?
    • Which line is the same length as line A?
  • The group announced their answers aloud.
  • The confederates were provided answers, always answered before the study participant, and always gave the same answer as the other confederates.
  • Confederates began by answering a few questions correctly. Later they offered unanimous incorrect answers.

The experiment tested number of confederates necessary to induce conformity. They studied the influence of voice to fifteen.
The experiment varied the degree unanimity of the confederates.

The control group, the hypothesis, and the results:

In a control group, designed without pressure to conform, only one subject out of 35 gave an incorrect answer.

Solomon Asch had hypothesized that the majority of people would not conform to something obviously wrong; however, when surrounded by individuals all voicing an incorrect answer, participants provided incorrect responses on a high proportion of the questions (32%). Seventy-five percent of the participants gave an incorrect answer to at least one question. — Wikipedia

The results indicated that …

  • One confederate offering a wrong response has virtually no influence — people will give their own answer.
  • Two confederates have only a small influence.
  • Three or more confederates make the tendency to conform relatively stable.

Three or more people who see things differently comprise a powerful influence toward conforming.
Yet …

If out of a group, even only one confederate voices a different opinion, participants are far more likely to resist the urge to conform.

This finding illuminates the power that even a small dissenting minority can have. Interestingly, this finding holds whether or not the dissenting confederate gives the correct answer. As long as the dissenting confederate gives an answer that is different from the majority, participants are more likely to give the correct answer. — Wikipedia

What Does this All Mean?

Unconsciously we lean toward silence if our opinion differs from the accepted group belief. Silence, often interrupted as agreement, can be simply a lack of contribution. How can we manage against losing the honest voices that choose not to speak?

Often “teams players” are defined as like-minded thinkers — possibly because such a group is easier to manage. Yet leadership depends on free flowing solid information. If we define “team players” as having deep connection in maturity and values, we can reach for a range of world views and ways of thinking — inside the box, outside the box, bottom up, top down, intuitive, data driven, idealistic, realistic, risk taking and risk averse thinkers.

Valuing a dissenting voice can raise the participation of an entire team. Though the conversation might become more complicated, the result will be a stronger, more honest exchange of higher quality thinking. When differing points of view are respected trust grows naturally.

That single dissenting voice gives the entire group permission to see what they see and know what they know — the power of honesty.

Have you experienced the value of a single dissenting voice? Have you had to be one?

Be irresistible.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!