Most of you have been part of a hiring process. You know the conversation about qualifications and attributes. Regardless of position, we search for the person with knowledge, with skills and with a set of personal attributes. Then interviews happen, and often conversations drift from those expressed qualifications to softer ones. We don't mean the reference check input, we mean the conversations about who will "fit" here. We mean the moments when the best answered are dismissed as too scripted and comfort rises as a factor. There may be talk about spouses or families or age or sports, some of them bordering on the illegal. Often we want the culture changed but the push back from within the system will require perseverance and will challenge existing relationships. So, we look for someone we think can do it without too much disruption. And usually, we want someone who will stay to see it through....at least when we hire the person.  Read more...