Q. How do you recognize in
the short period of an interview whether the person possesses the qualities you’re
looking?
I think it really just comes
from asking the right questions.
When you look a person in the
eye, people are usually excited
about their interview, they’re
nervous about their interview,
they’re complacent, they’re
down, they’re depressed. I think
you just have to pay attention to
their body language.
The most important thing in
any interview is your ability to
listen and not to talk.
I listen very carefully when
they’re talking. It sends me in
all kinds of directions mentally.
Don’t think about what you
want to say or your questions. Once you’ve asked it,
be all ears. Be listening to
what the person says.
I’m constantly searching for
an upbeat, teamwork mentality, a sense of honesty, a strong
desire to do what is right.
Q. Once someone’s on board,
how do you then foster that
sense of teamwork and honesty among employees?
I think it’s the whole air of your
company — the openness of it,
the willingness to let people
know how you’re doing financially, be it good or negative.
Once you make them a part
of that honesty and openness,
they become part of worrying
about it. If they’re worrying
about or happy about the
financial situation of the company, they get drawn into the
company, and they start to
treat the company as if it’s
their own.
HOW TO REACH: George Thomas Contractor Inc., www.georgethomascontractor.com or (614) 870-1950
