Hiring? Separate must-have's and nice-to-have's

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When you're getting ready to hire a new staff member, make sure to distinguish between what is a "must-have" quality or skill for the role and what is simply a "nice-to-have."

In doing this, pay special attention to what qualities tend to be inherent (i.e., you either have it or you don't) versus what can be taught or developed.

• For instance, underlying talents like strong critical thinking, effective writing, work ethic, meticulousness, or an ability to build strong interpersonal relationships are difficult to teach, so if they're important to the job, they should go on your "must have" list.
• On the other hand, more specific skills or knowledge - like mastery of a particular type of software, industry knowledge, or experience writing fundraising letters - can more easily be picked up along the way, particularly when more essential traits (in these cases, critical thinking and strong writing) are in place.

In the long-term, underlying traits like critical thinking or initiative or assertiveness are much more likely to differentiate high performers than are things like specific experience in your sector.

How do you ensure you're looking at the right skills and talents when hiring? Share in the comments!

Alison Green writes for The Management Center and is the co-author of Managing to Change the World: The Nonprofit Leader's Guide to Getting Results

Photo from hansol, via Creative Commons.