This post was originally published on this site
Three years ago, I found myself at the final stage of an interview process for a Vice President, Human Resources opportunity with an exciting 700-person startup. The final interview started by meeting with the Chief Executive Officer. We spent an hour together learning about one another. For my final I was scheduled to speak with their Chief-of-Staff. This person would operate as a peer to whomever they hired for the role.
During the interview, the Chief-of-Staff sat across from me and asked me a number of basic questions regarding my career. This interview felt more like a check-the-box type of interview, but I was happy to oblige. I was curious about the person I would potentially collaborate with to help the business find even more success. It wasn’t until fifteen minutes into the interview that the interviewer challenged me.
“What book inspired you early in your career? What book compelled you to pursue Human Resources?” he asked.
I shared with him that a former Chief People Officer I reported to had purchased me a copy of Tony Hsieh’s, Delivering Happiness. Tsieh’s book illuminated the importance of customer service and company culture in building a successful business. The gentleman immediately pushed
