I was VP at Google for 10 years. Here’s the No. 1 skill I looked for at job interviews—few people had it
Throughout my 10 years at Google as a VP, there have been weeks the place I spent as much as 40 hours conducting job interviews. So to make issues simpler, I all the time had one ability that I seemed for in candidates earlier than anything: self-awareness.
Positive, your expertise and expertise matter, however they are often discovered. And when somebody is extremely self-aware, they’re extra motivated to study as a result of they’re trustworthy about what they should work on. Additionally they relate higher to their colleagues and managers.
Plus, it is a uncommon trait: Analysis reveals that though 95% of individuals suppose they’re self-aware, solely 10% to fifteen% really are.
How I examine for self-awareness
I all the time watch for 2 phrases: An excessive amount of “I” is a crimson flag that they might not be humble or collaborative. An excessive amount of “we” might obscure what position they performed within the state of affairs. There must be a steadiness.
I usually study one thing revealing once I ask about their particular position. A constructive reply can be: “It was my thought, however the credit score goes to the entire workforce.”
I additionally ask how their colleagues would describe them. In the event that they solely say good issues, I probe what constructive suggestions they’ve obtained.
Then I am going to say, “And what have you ever executed to enhance?” to examine their orientation in direction of studying and self-improvement, and to see whether or not they’ve taken that suggestions to coronary heart.
The self-awareness evaluation
For those who’re not self-aware, how would you recognize? Listed here are some telltale indicators:
- You constantly get suggestions that you simply disagree with. This does not imply the suggestions is appropriate, nevertheless it does imply that how others understand you differs from the way you understand your self.
- You usually really feel pissed off and aggravated since you do not agree together with your workforce’s path or selections.
- You’re feeling drained on the finish of a workday and might’t pinpoint why.
- You may’t describe what sorts of labor you do and do not take pleasure in doing.
Learn how to construct self-awareness
Changing into extra self-aware is all about understanding why you’re employed the best way you do, and what you may contribute to your workforce:
1. Perceive your values.
Figuring out what’s necessary to you, what provides you power, and what weakens it’ll assist you make sense of how you’re employed.
With these insights, you can categorical your values and perceive when they’re at odds with each other, or with another person’s values.
2. Determine your work fashion.
Spend a couple of weeks writing down the moments while you really feel such as you’re reaching new heights at your job or hitting new lows. You will begin to see patterns.
When you have bother trusting your personal instincts, ask somebody whose judgment you respect: “When have you ever seen me do my finest and worst work?”
3. Analyze your expertise and capabilities.
In an interview setting, you need to be capable to converse confidently about your strengths and weaknesses.
To have a extra tactical sense of self-awareness, ask your self two questions:
- What are you able to do rather well? Which expertise do you will have, and which do you want to construct on?
- What are your capabilities? What are you naturally good at, and which capabilities have you ever acquired over time?
“I ask myself: If I begin over as we speak, what can I do in a different way? Did I make any errors? Can I enhance tomorrow? Typically I write down one thing necessary,” he says. “However more often than not, the pondering is sufficient.”
Claire Hughes Johnson is an advisor for Stripe, creator of “Scaling Individuals,” and lecturer at Harvard Enterprise Faculty. Beforehand, she was Stripe’s Chief Working Officer, and spent 10 years at Google, the place she oversaw facets of Gmail, Google Apps, and shopper operations. Claire additionally serves as a trustee and the present board president of Milton Academy. Observe her on Twitter.
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