Hiring: It’s Not Just About Skills By Jaime Decker, Ethos Group Finding great employees is tough. One of the first things we look for when hiring people is whether or not they have the skills to do the job. Although skills are extremely important, they may not be the first thing to look for when filling a specific position in the dealership. There are some positions that require some previous experience, but these skills may not lead to the experience we are trying to create for our customers. In the book “Setting the Table,” Danny Meyer, the founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, suggests that to create the best experience for customers and employees, you must not only hire based on skill level. He suggests looking beyond just skill; look for some very important and specific personal qualities as well. Meyer defines these qualities as having a high hospitality quotient (H.Q.). Meyer owns several of the most awarded restaurants in the United States. From 2- and 3-star Michelinrated restaurants in New York, to the modern-day “roadside” burger restaurant, Shake Shack. Meyer states, “We hire 51% based on their H.Q., and 49% based on their skills.” As an employer, we have a clear idea of the skills needed, but it’s the specific qualities we are looking for in our candidates that will create a point of separation from the rest. Meyer highlights seven key qualities that we should aim to find in our candidates to ensure we hire the best employees. Let’s take a look at these traits and apply them to our industry: 1. Kindness It’s not rocket science; people like people who are kind. Kindness transcends all cultural and economic barriers. It’s also very good for you physically when you are kind. It is good for your blood pressure, your heart and your mental well-being, and has proven to produce large levels of dopamine in your system. This is good for the giver and the receiver of kind acts. However, it only works when duplicated repeatedly. A onetime act of kindness is great, but the fuel burns off quickly. We must refill the tank by being kind time and time again for it to really work. Be kind once, and you feel good for a bit. Be kind all the time and you always feel good. 2. Optimism Too often, people are disappointed that we’re not “doing as good” as we did before. True, without optimism, you’ll set yourself up to be right. According to the NADA, the auto industry is on pace to sell almost 16 million new cars this year! The most we have ever sold is 17.5 million. We are up over last year in volume, and it’s going to continue. If we are worried about yesterday, we forget about today’s opportunity. Optimism is not only a requirement for a great employee but also vital to a team’s success. 16 Illinois Automobile Dealer News
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