Beyond the Resume: 3 Essential Traits to Look for in Executive Candidates
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Embarking on the intricate journey of executive hiring calls for a keen understanding of traits that go beyond what’s captured on paper. With a rich tapestry of experience spanning over 40 years, Theoris has gathered invaluable insights into the complexities of finding executive talent. We’ve had a front-row seat to witness the transformative impact that leaders embodying essential traits can bring to organizations. Join us on this exploration as we uncover the top three traits crucial for securing the perfect executive candidate.
1. Self-Aware Leadership
Companies today are placing a premium on emotional intelligence, recognizing its pivotal role in hiring, promoting, and developing employees. Research by psychologist and author Daniel Goleman highlights a robust connection between emotional intelligence and executive success. His findings reveal that 80-90% of high-performing C-suite leaders exhibit elevated emotional intelligence, which proves twice as influential in predicting executive performance as technical skills or IQ.
At the heart of this lies self-awareness, a subtle yet vital element often underestimated. Goleman deems it the linchpin of emotional intelligence, empowering individuals to recognize and understand their emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. Leaders armed with heightened self-awareness not only make savvy decisions and manage emotions effectively but also lay the foundation for authentic leadership, trust, empathy, and a positive organizational culture.
- How do you handle moments of stress or pressure?
- How have you actively sought feedback to understand your strengths and areas for improvement as a leader?
- If you were to receive anonymous feedback from a past or current team tomorrow, what would you hope they commend you on, and where might they suggest improvement?
2. From Empathy to Caring
Empathy training has become a leadership staple, recognizing that understanding employees’ feelings forges meaningful connections and, as per Gallup data, significantly boosts business outcomes. However, the real leadership game-changer goes beyond empathy—it’s about genuine care.
According to Gallup, caring leaders invest personally and professionally in their team’s success, standing up for them and fostering a deeply engaging work environment. Unlike attempts to automate human interactions, caring leaders prioritize authentic connections, creating workplaces where employees feel seen, valued, and supported.
- What steps do you take to create an environment where diverse perspectives and ideas are acknowledged and valued?
- In times of high workload or tight deadlines, how do you ensure that your team feels supported and cared for, rather than just focused on productivity?
- Can you share a specific instance where you believe your empathy made a tangible, positive impact on a team member's work or personal life?
3. Having a Curious Edge
Indeed.com recently explored the “Top 12 Qualities Every CEO Shares,” placing curiosity at the tail end. Yet, its significance is far from last. Curiosity lays the groundwork for so many traits one would ascribe to a corporate leader. A leader who is genuinely curious, who asks the right questions and truly leans in and listens, improves their chances of making correct decisions.
Beyond merely laying the groundwork for essential leadership traits, curiosity is the driving force behind continuous learning, innovation, and effective decision-making. A leader fueled by genuine curiosity propels not only their personal growth but also inspires a culture of exploration and excellence within their organization.
- Describe a situation where you sought input from team members based on their strengths.
- What books, articles, or thought leaders do you currently follow, and how has this external knowledge influenced your leadership approach?
- How do you approach failure? Can you provide an example of a situation where a setback fueled your curiosity to analyze and learn from the experience?
Navigating Executive Talent: Your Strategic Partner for Success
Embarking on the quest for executive excellence requires more than a resume—it demands an exploration of essential traits that define transformative leadership. Through our journey, we've delved into the nuances of self-awareness, caring leadership, and curiosity, unveiling the blueprint for securing the perfect executive candidate.
If you're ready to go beyond conventional hiring and want a partner with over 40 years of experience in navigating the complexities of executive talent acquisition, Theoris is here for you.
Click here to explore how our personalized approach can transform your executive search and staffing endeavors.
