Curioser and curioser
FROM OCTOBER 2014’s RECRUITER MAGAZINE
Curiosity is the strongest predictor of career or job potential, especially when recruiting leaders, says leading London headhunter Jill Ader.
A questioning nature tops the list of four personal qualities that are more important in today’s business environment than experience in a similar role.
“To know that the biggest factor in potential to grow is curiosity, it helps you see people in a different way,” Ader recently told Recruiter. “You’re going to probe deeper. What [is this person] curious about? Are they curious about what people think? Are they curious about what people feel — and about other organisations, other sectors … about themselves? Do they ask for feedback?”
Ader is a senior partner and board member at international headhunting firm Egon Zehnder. She focuses on board work at the executive search practice. Ader was discussing key traits sought in leaders in the wake of the financial crisis, as organisations seek a different type of person to lead than they might have previously.
Other traits now sought are:
• Insight: “Seeing things other people haven’t seen, and to know where to take an organisation or how to build the best talent management [system]” in an increasingly complex world, Ader said.
• Engagement: “Winning hearts and minds, getting people to come along with you on what you’re doing, managing stakeholders, who might be the regulator, government, organisations.”
• Determination, courage, resilience: “The financial services crisis really demonstrated who’s got that. If you’ve got the purpose and the values, in a crisis, they’re going to guide you. You can’t just call in your HR expert or lawyer — things happen in the moment. Those guiding principles are what is going to have to hold you in good stead in a crisis.”
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