Amongst the hell the pandemic has brought to the business community, COVID-19 has proven to be a boon for the average professional. The cyclical nature of the employment market that ebbs and flows in waves that alternate between benefiting employers then employees then back to employers, has morphed into a tsunami of empty workplace positions that has given more leverage to the average professional than in any other time in our nation’s history.
A lateral move by an employee who switches to another organization often results in a more flexible work schedule, greater fringe benefits, and a five-figure wage increase.
As employers are frantically competing to hire qualified workers in a talent pool that is shallower than ever before, how can they ensure they are indeed hiring the best candidate for the position and not simply bringing aboard the best of an underwhelming bunch out of sheer desperation?
A Super Ability
Amongst the hell the pandemic has brought to the business community, COVID-19 has proven to be a boon for the average professional. The cyclical nature of the employment market that ebbs and flows in waves that alternate between benefiting employers then employees then back to employers, has morphed into a tsunami of empty workplace positions that has given more leverage to the average professional than in any other time in our nation’s history.
A lateral move by an employee who switches to another organization often results in a more flexible work schedule, greater fringe benefits, and a five-figure wage increase.
As employers are frantically competing to hire qualified workers in a talent pool that is shallower than ever before, how can they ensure they are indeed hiring the best candidate for the position and not simply bringing aboard the best of an underwhelming bunch out of sheer desperation?
The Importance of What Cannot Be Seen
Buss Brauer has been blind for more than 30 years, but that did not stop him from reaching the executive offices at a global manufacturing organization with thousands of employees spread across three continents. Nor did it stop the organization from generously affording him the opportunity for early retirement so he could found Blue Skies USA.
The vision Mr. Brauer does not have, he has learned, has allowed him to hone his interviewing skills, understanding that putting the right person in the right job is the first step in developing a hyper-productive workforce.
“The power suit, fresh haircut, manicured nails, tone of skin, artistically designed resume, and comforting smile doesn’t help people I interview get the job,” Mr. Brauer said. “We as people form judgments of other people within milliseconds of meeting them. We use our eyes to collect data, then form an opinion of that person based upon the incomplete and hastily obtained information we have gained upon seeing them for the first time. The entire tone of the interview is based on the original judgment that was made before we even talked to them.”
Mr. Brauer views his vision, or lack thereof, as a super ability that has allowed him to build and maintain highly efficient and successful workforces. He credits that success with placing the right people in the right jobs at the onset of their hiring.
Seeing into the Soul
When “visual distractions” are removed from the equation, as Mr. Brauer calls them, the entire interview takes on a new tone and direction.
“An interview should begin with a conversation. Too often, people who have limited experience in hiring are tasked with the challenge of determining who among the masses is best suited to work with them.” Brauer says. “Companies often market that they promote from within. Others quietly hire people they already know. Why? Because those who are doing the hiring are not able and do not have the time to learn who someone is during the handful of conversations they have during the interview process. So they hire the devil they know rather than the person or people best suited to thrive in their environment.”
The key is to learn who someone truly is, and what she may be capable of, as quickly and accurately as possible, as candidates can only tolerate a relatively small number of pre-employment interactions.
By forgoing judgements derived from a first-sight impression, Mr. Brauer says he can truly get to know someone on a personal level very quickly.
Seeing with his ears, Mr. Brauer detects slight trembles in a person’s voice, or the absence of such tremors. Confidence, confusion, and even misrepresentations or exaggerations of the truth can also be seen when critical listening becomes the only method of communication and learning.
“I learn who a person really is, right off the bat. Then, I learn if he can do the job. Lastly, I learn if he wants to do the job,” Mr. Brauer outlined.
Can You See With Your Ears?
The interviewing and placement skills Mr. Brauer has developed over his three decades as an executive have been intentionally learned, refined, and nurtured. While not natural, Mr. Brauer believes many people can also do it if given the proper training and opportunity to practice.
“Cognitive Observation and Introspective Vision are based on an ability to truly listen. These skills are not unique to someone who is blind, like me, but are tools that must be consciously lubricated in order to function properly,” says Mr. Brauer. “Some people have the desire and time to learn them, while others prefer to focus on their existing obligations and let a hiring manager or recruiter develop interviewing and hiring skills for them. Either way, it is essential that someone is extremely skilled at identifying the right hire and not just bringing in someone she already knows.
“After 30 years of churning out high quality products made by high quality people who subsequently deliver high and consistent profits, I’ve learned the most rewarding thing I can do is teach people how to see what I can hear as we work together build a work environment that is the envy of all others,” said Mr. Brauer.
Blue Skies USA offers recruiting, executive placement, Blind/Visually Impaired (BVI) hiring search and consulting, and ongoing workforce development programming that is uniquely centered around the development of the next generation of leaders.
If you are interested in learning how a blind executive operates and how his skills can become your tools, please contact Blue Skies USA for a consultation.
Blue Skies USA is a workforce development firm that brings unrivaled recruiting, placement, training, coaching, executive retreats, and strategic consulting to your organization that will not break your budget (most of our services are free). Contact us and we’ll chat about your organization and decide together if a partnership is advantageous for us both!