Make the Right Hire! Interview for the Perfect Fit. by Larry M. Guzzardo
Short of having a candidate take a psychological test administered by a clinical psychologist, it’s very difficult to determine the state of anyone’s personal life. With that said, I do think there are a few questions that can be sprinkled throughout an interview to help provide some insight. 1. What do you like about dentistry? How would you change what you don’t like? This question does a couple of things. First, it gives you insight into how the individual can verbalize something they don’t like. An answer that is only 5% about the problem and 95% about the solution is an indication that the individual does not get caught up with events of the past. 2. Tell me about a problem you were tasked with solving in your current position. How did you choose to fix it?
This exposes their problem solving and creative thinking ability. Did they have a thoughtful approach to solving the problem or did they blame someone else and pass it on to another for a solution? Individuals who take responsibility have more control over what happens to them during their interaction with others and less likely to be taken advantage of or becoming a victim.
If someone you’re interviewing says they work out three times a week, perform volunteer work, and is learning how to do something (cook or play piano for example) “just for fun”, then I think it’s fair to say they value achievement, goal setting and are always looking to improve themselves. I think this will also translate into their job.
3. Knowing that dentistry can be stressful; how do you balance your professional and personal life?
“Stable people strive to do well in most areas of their life including physical fitness, relationships, and learning.”
I have found that people who report they participate in team activities such as soccer, rowing, basketball, and volleyball tend to be driven, focused on achieving goals and physically fit, which keeps their mind sharp. Generally, they will also be better communicators, cope well under pressure and perform well while working with others. We know balance is important for personal stability.
Along with asking good questions; listen really well too. Obviously the more the candidate talks, the more you’ll learn. People who are emotionally stable exhibit certain qualities and continue to explore them throughout their life. Listen to determine if these qualities are present in how the candidate lives their life.
They treat others well. Viewing other people with compassion and treating them with kindness is a hallmark of your own well-being. It indicates you’re sensitive to the needs and feelings of other people, and think it’s important to help others. It’s basically the idea that you’ll lend a hand to someone in need, even if it’s as simple as picking up something that was dropped by another person, or smiling and making friendly conversation with the person standing next to you in line. They like who they are. When you’re personally stable, you generally feel pretty good about who you are. You know yourself – quirks and strengths – and you’re okay with how you are inside. You’re also congruent: congruency means that the person you show to the outside world is reflective of who you are in the inside. While there are situations where you naturally shift your attitude or behavior a bit depending on the social situation, (it’s normal to behave differently at a work function than at a weekend picnic with friends), congruence “When you’re personally stable, you generally feel pret ty good about who you are.”
means your overall sense of who you are feels in line with what you show others. It’s the opposite of feeling like you have to wear a mask or pretend to be someone you’re not. Instead, you’re able to be genuine with yourself and others. You feel like you’re living the life you want, not living the life others want you to have.
They are flexible. Individuals who have personal stability have an ability to adapt to all kinds of situations that life throws at them. They
knowing that they might need to adjust their course of action when one strategy isn’t working. Flexibility is key because it allows an individual to make decisions based on values and to make choices that will serve them well in life.
They have gratitude for their loved ones. lity Tra When you’re personally its: stable, it’s likely you easily Treats Others feel and show gratitude for Well the people and things in your Is SelfConfid life. Having gratitude is a way of ent purposely looking at your life with Is Flexi ble a sense of appreciation for what you have, rather than focusing on Shows what you are lacking. The ability to Gratitu de count your blessings is a key factor in Embra relationship well-being. When you show ces Em otions gratitude, it means that your spouse, Has Pa kids, parents – the people who matter ssion to you – know you love them and feel valued by you. It doesn’t mean you don’t Values Experi fight or say things you’ll regret at times, ence and it doesn’t mean you always behave well in the relationship. But when push comes to shove, you’re able to show unconditional love and affection to your family. They’ll give hugs, exhibit warmth, show appreciation are able to assess a situation mindfully – and attention freely, and share successes they notice their surroundings, their emotogether. tions and the reaction of others to a given situation – and then use these factors Personal stability also depends on to decide what the best course of action having social support. Every one of us should be. With other team members, needs a nurturing, loving environment to friendships, or family, flexibility is knowing that sometimes you need to talk things out, thrive. This means you have people you can and sometimes it’s best to let the situation depend on, friends and family who have your best interest at heart. In relationships, cool off. Personally stable individuals will you feel safe to express how you feel and stand up for themselves when need be, you feel respected by those closest to you. but are also able to let others have the last word. They know how to have tough They are in touch with conversations and set boundaries, but their emotions. they also know when to let things go. Another sign of personal stability is their They approach life and relationships ability to embrace their emotions – with an openness and sense of curiosity,
Stable Person a
sadness, anger, anxiety, joy, fear, excitement – as a natural and normal part of life. They handle it and acknowledge difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them or by denying that these emotions exist. They know it’s normal to have periods of stress, and they know how to manage and express themselves when they feel upset, and know who they can go to and get comfort or help. Their feelings of sadness, anxiety and fears don’t get in the way of what they love to do. If they’re afraid of public speaking, they manage to get up in front of an audience anyway. Personal stability comes from being able to acknowledge and accept tough emotions, but also “Another sign of personal stability is to embrace their emotions – sadness, anger, anxiety, joy, fear, excitement – as a natural and normal part of life.”
move forward from them without getting stuck. This means they might get nervous before meeting someone new, however, they don’t let the nerves stop them from making the acquaintance. They also savor their positive emotions – reveling in the moments of pleasure, happiness and joy when they come as this is also linked to personal stability.
They have meaning in their life. Leading a purposeful life is about having a passion, a mission or larger meaning to your life. This is when you use your strengths to help someone or something you believe in. It might be volunteering with kids, being involved in politics, taking an active role in your religion, contributing to your neighborhood or child’s school, or competing in a marathon or walkathon for a good cause. Regardless of the cause, being part of something you connect with and care about is largely associated with well-being and personal stability.
They value experiences more than possessions. People who think it’s more important to obtain wealth, popularity, or attractiveness tend to be less well-off emotionally than people who value self-fulfillment and being there for others. This means that while they might have goals or career and financial security, they also highly value time with their family and friends. Additionally, people with high levels of personal stability tend to spend their money on experiences, like going to a concert or going on a trip, rather than material possessions such as clothes, cars or furniture. Valuing experiences for these individuals may be more meaningful than possessions because they lead to shared experiences and bonding with people, help you enjoy what the world has to offer and cultivates positive emotions that come with new experiences. Hopefully this will shed some light on the mystery of determining whether someone is emotionally stable or not so you can conclude if someone is going to be able to cope with the demands of working with others – team members, patients, and you.
Larry M. Guzzardo Larry M. Guzzardo who has co-authored two books, “Powerful Practice” and “Getting Things Done” conducts in-office practice management consultations exclusively for dentists to enhance trust, create organization, increase profits, and to develop patient relationships that last. Larry presented numerous workshops including: “Winning Patient Acceptance”; “Business Communication Systems”; and “The Leadership Challenge.” Larry can be reached at :
800-782-5770 or Larry@larrymguzzardo.com if you have further questions.