Ask the right people for references

Don’t underestimate how important references are to the hiring process. Even before you start interviewing, develop a mental list of past and current colleagues who could serve as your references. Your list should have former and current bosses, co-workers and subordinates. Ask managers who have given you positive performance reviews, co-workers who have thanked you for help on projects and people who have successfully worked under you. Never ask someone to be a reference if you don’t know for certain what he is going to say. If you don’t want colleagues to know you’re considering leaving, offer to provide references outside of your company or offer to provide references once you get a formal job offer. Just make sure to find out what the hiring manager wants to check.

(Adapted from How to Choose the Right References, by Rebecca Knight)

Tackle new projects

The new year is a good time to think about trying fresh initiatives that can help move your organisation forward. But if you want them to be successful, you need to manage the time involved. Don’t give your team more assignments without taking some away first. If you don’t communicate clear priorities, people won’t know what’s important and what can wait, and it won’t be long before almost everyone feels overworked. Once you let your team know which areas are ripe for improvement, free up time to move toward that vision by consolidating, eliminating or streamlining current activities. Then encourage short-term experiments that will help them learn how to get to the vision quicker and with greater impact.

(Adapted from Help Your Team Spend Time on the Right Things, by Ron Ashkenas and Amy McDougall)

The value of smart follow-up questions

Whether you’re deciding who to hire, who to trust or who to partner with, the better you are at judging people, the better off you will be. Stop relying on go-to questions like ‘What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?’ ‘What do you want to be doing in five years?’ and ‘What motivates you?’ The answers won’t tell you much. The key to understanding people lies in the follow-up question. Pay attention to how the interviewee responds to your initial question, and then build on his answer. Instead of accepting a vague answer at face value, ask your original question again, but slightly differently. This shows that you are not letting the person off the hook, that you’re trying to make the first question clearer. Ask about the implications of that answer: ‘How does your perfectionism play out in the workplace?’ ‘What are the consequences of your detail orientation?’

(Adapted from Tactics for Asking Good Follow-Up Questions, by Richard Davis)

Adapt presentation for different cultures

Presentations are never one-size-fits-all — especially across different cultures. People have different ways of learning, so when presenting, you need to be able to adapt your style according to your audience. For example, in ‘principles-first’ cultures (e.g., France, Spain, Germany, Russia), people want to understand the why behind proposals before moving to action. You have to explain and validate the concept underlying your reasoning before coming to conclusions and examples. And you should leave time for people to challenge and debate. But in ‘applications-first’ cultures (US), people focus less on the why and more on the how. Make your arguments by getting right to the point. Provide practical examples of how it worked elsewhere, and then discuss tools and next steps.

(Adapted from Tailor Your Presentation to Fit the Culture, by Erin Meyer)

Practice mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness, which is all about being in the present moment, can boost creativity, lower stress and improve concentration. But people miss out because they think they’re too busy to meditate. Consider using your daily commute to practice mindfulness. When you get in the car, take a few deep breaths. Buckle up and become aware of your body. Feel your hands on the steering wheel and your foot on the pedal. As you drive, notice what you are looking at: the road, your windshield, your mirrors. Notice the sounds you hear. Avoid sinking into autopilot. This sounds basic, but concentrating isn’t easy. Our minds wander and we’re tempted to check our phones. Brush these distractions aside and focus on making the most of your time in the car, on a train or however you travel.

(Adapted from Your Car Commute Is a Chance to Practice Mindfulness, by Maria Gonzalez)

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, January 26th , 2015

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