The Good Ones: Ten Crucial Qualities of High-Character Employees

Businesses, understandably, look for technical expertise when hiring. Unfortunately, they often simply hope for the best when it comes to character, or “goodness.” But as Bruce Weinstein shows, there can be enormous financial and reputation loss when talented employees turn out to be dishonest, unreliable — or worse. In this practical guide to sound hiring, Weinstein pinpoints ten attributes. Some, such as honesty, accountability, and loyalty, are unsurprising while others, such as courage, gratitude, patience, and even presence, are less commonly discussed. Real workplace examples show why each is important and what interviewing techniques bring them to the fore. Never dry or preachy, Weinstein often uses popular culture examples to illustrate his ideas (even telling us “what Monty Python has to do with it.”) The result puts the issues that can feel like “none of your business” back where they belong in every enterprise.