Alright. I admit it. I’m DVRing “The Celebrity Apprentice” again this year. It’s got even fewer true “celebrities” (Dayana Mendoza, Paul Teutul, Sr., Tia Carrere – really?) yet I feel compelled to watch. I actually realized I tune in not to see who gets fired, but to watch who surprises me as the leaders and innovators on each task. Shouldn’t Donald be looking for people to HIRE vs. fire each week? Business Week ran an article about the three types of people to fire which I probably agree with too; but let’s look at who you should immediately hire as you find them.
1. The Work-Through-School (“WTS”) Type “Give it to me; I can get it done. Yes, I’m running five projects but I know how important this is.” The WTS types are those who thrive on multiple challenges. They are used to multi-tasking and prioritizing. Most thrive on adrenalin and likely don’t sleep much anyway. They tend to be positive, forward-thinking and fast. WTS types are always asking to do more and eager to contribute. They will be the ones to tackle a tough project because it stretches them but also knowing it will get them noticed. Nothing wrong with over-achievers assuming they aren’t self-promoters as well.
2. The Undiscovered Hi-Po “I was thinking about a different way to do X.” We all know the term “hi-potential” but do we always know who they are? In talking to HR pros across the country, it’s like a game to find the gem who doesn’t know they’re a gem because for some reason they haven’t been discovered in their own organization. We should all be looking for people like this and nabbing them as soon as we find them. The Undiscovered Hi-Po is articulate, has an incredible work-ethic and has life experiences which have rounded them out. It is the person who grew up traveling and is culturally astute beyond their years. It’s the quiet one who reads a couple of books in a week and is always on top of the newest trend.
3. The I Want To Try Something New (“IWTTSN”) Leader “I really want to learn this business and I don’t care what you call me.” This is the seasoned leader who is financially set or stable and wants to do something different or just wants to dial-down but still has years of energy to contribute. They tell you they don’t care about titles and mean it. Often this group gets passed over as we don’t want to believe they’d ever take a job for a fourth of what they used to make; but due to changing priorities or a different sense of fulfillment – they can and actually DO. Snap up the IWTTSN Leader! They will have a renewed sense of purpose and miles of experience to contribute. Giving them a new direction or challenge excites them and you get the advantage of their knowledge without paying a consultant’s price.
Patricia Velasquez lost the first challenge on this year’s Apprentice, yet she led a team of dysfunctional women and raised the most money ever in a first challenge…until we learned the guy’s leader called in all his favors and had one donor contribute $300K. Usually the losing project manager is the first to get thrown under the bus and is sent packing – but everyone, including “The Donald” recognized her potential and she stayed.
Heck, she won over Victoria Gotti who sung her praises even after Patricia called her out. THIS is also the other person to immediately hire. The one who doesn’t care if there’s a landfill in New Jersey with her name on it – she’s going to call it like it is.
