By Rowe Leathers
Contributor, Career Services
Choosing a new hire for a position is not always as simple as choosing the most qualified candidate. One attribute of an applicant that is not often addressed is the level of energy the candidate brings to the position. The level of energy that a person brings to a role is an important component to the success of the organization.
An obvious example of a mismatch is to place a low-energy person in a sales position, which requires self-initiative and a level of boldness in order to succeed. Conversely, a high-energy person hired for a slower-paced position will struggle to stay within the confines of the role.
Aside from a candidate meeting the required experience and education requirements, consideration should be taken about how the person will fill the role. From personal experience, I have seen well-qualified people struggle to keep up with the pace of the office workload and then slowly slip into dissatisfaction.
When this happens, a discord can occur that will force all parties have to step back and assess the situation with the new hire. While necessary, taking the required time to make adjustments can be costly; however, assessing the situation should be a priority to management as a disruption in team flow can affect department productivity and the overall bottom line.
As a career coach, I have worked with candidates who were unaware of the importance of their energy and the role it plays in their success. I think much of it is due to how we perceive ourselves as capable beings motivated to step up to the challenge.
While willingness to step up is a good quality, stepping into a role that will always be a challenge may not be a good decision. A constant struggle at one’s job rarely brings forth success. When both parties recognize the importance of energy required for a position and candidates are chosen accordingly, a synergy is found that allows for success, growth and development for all.
[Related article: WorkWise: Your energy level influences job type]
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