William McKinley, the 25th U.S. President, once had to choose between two equally qualified men for a key job. He puzzled over the choice until he remembered a long-ago incident.
On a rainy night, McKinley had boarded a crowded streetcar. One of the men he was now considering had also been aboard, though he didn’t see McKinley. Then an old woman carrying a basket of laundry struggled into the car, looking in vain for a seat. The job candidate pretended not to see her and kept his seat. McKinley gave up his seat to help her.
Remembering this incident, which he called “this little omission of kindness,” McKinley decided against the man on the streetcar. Our decisions – even the small, fleeting ones – tell a lot about us.
We are seeing a pendulum swing toward “behavioral” interviewing. I recently met an executive for breakfast and was appalled at his treatment of our waitress. It gave me a good indication of how he likely treats his employees. And it sealed it for me that I don’t want to do business with him.
Source: “Presidential Anecdotes” by Paul Boller, Jr.
For more on “behavioral” interviewing, see page 131-140 in 48 Days To The Work You Love.
Even when we think no one is looking!
Greetings Dan,
I have lived long enough to truly believe that what goes around comes around.
Thanks
I once rushed through an interview with a candidate to get it over with based on seeing how he pulled into the parking lot. He was reckless and went over the lines like he owned the place. He had no idea we were watching and normally we didn’t, but I just happened to be looking out the window.
I know we all make mistakes, but this rubbed me the wrong way. It didn’t help that he was young. If he’d been 45 and done that, I might have not felt that way as much. Who knows?
So true…what we really believe in is evidenced by how we live more than by what we say.
Practice kindness. Treat others the way you want to be treated. What’s so fun about practicing kindness is that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Everyone may not return the favor or be kind in return, but you will have the confidence of knowing that you acted in integrity and with character. That’s what I strive to live by. It’s the little things…