In today’s competitive economy, quality has never mattered more. Customers now have the ability to locate and compare products from all over the world without leaving their desk or couch. There are endless sources to seek out data on the quality of a company’s products and services, and if yours are not up to par, you’ll lose out to your competitors. If you want to create a culture that values quality, you must be able to find leaders who are committed to quality in everything they touch.
Get Specific About Results
Anybody can make claims on a resume without backing them up. Throughout the hiring process, ask leadership candidates to provide specific examples from their previous work and to offer verifiable metrics showing their results. If you can’t verify their claims independently, take time during the reference-check phase to ask former supervisors and colleagues about the candidate’s claims and to comment on their commitment to quality.
Look for Perpetual Learners
Standards of quality are always changing, and if you want to hire leaders that are committed to quality, you must look for candidates who are committed to learning. When speaking with potential leaders, ask them how they continue to improve their knowledge and abilities, both in their professional and non-professional life.
Be wary of people who rely solely on their employer as a means of learning. People who are truly passionate about producing quality results will use their spare time to grow their professional knowledge and skills, whether their employer sponsors it or not.
Talk About Overcoming Obstacles
Every project, process, and initiative run up against roadblocks. The way someone handles obstacles can tell you a lot about their commitment to quality. Someone who simply folds when an obstacle arises is likely not passionate about what they do. Conversely, someone who hits a roadblock studies the situation and works to find a creative solution is likely committed to driving quality results.
Ask every candidate to discuss a problem or obstacle they have faced in the recent past. Then, ask them to describe their process for overcoming the problem and coming up with a resolution or solution. Finally, ask what the outcome was and what they might change if they had to go back and do it again.
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