HR Southwest - Do I have to talk about my feelings?

The afternoon of the first day of HR Southwest was fun - good sessions, a lively (and complete with the expected technical issues), live broadcast of the HR Happy Hour show, and capped off by an enjoyable tweet-up sponsored by Aquire Software.

The most interesting session I attended was presented by Adele Lynn, and centered on Emotional Intelligence, and how in the interview process the recruiter/hiring manager/HR Professional can learn how to look for and assess the 'Emotional Intelligence' of a given candidate.  

Ms. Lynn defines 'Emotional Intelligence' as the 'ability to manage your relationships with others so that you can live your intentions and values'.

In the application of the Emotional Intelligence model to recruiting and interviewing, the interviewer attempts to take the widely practiced 'Behavioral Interviewing' method ' 'Tell me about a time when...' and extend it with questions that gauge the emotional intelligence of the candidate - 'How did it feel when...' and 'What did you learn about the experience?' and 'How were you changed by the experience?'

The theory being by supplementing behavioral based questions with emotional based questions, the interviewer can get a fuller, truer picture of the candidate, how the candidate will respond in challenging situations, and even the ability and potential of the candidate to grow and develop with experience.

Ms. Lynn was an engaging speaker, and throughout the presentation gave practical examples (many using recorded interviews) to illustrate the key points, and challenge the audience to think more deeply about the EI approach.  You can learn more about EI from her many books on the subject.

I like the idea of the EI approach, at least from the organizational side.  Any technique that leads to better, more aligned hires is valuable. If I were a candidate, I would not be so sure. 

It's hard enough to craft a solid resume, negotiate an ATS and labyrinth application process to get in the door.

Now I have to talk about my feelings too? Crap.

HR Southwest - Morning Day 1

HR Conferences start early in Texas.  It was pitch dark this morning on the short walk from the hotel over to the HR Southwest conference at the massive Fort Worth Conference center.  

An early start was needed to be able to attend one of the opening sessions that all kicked off at 7:00AM. 

Fortunately, for those of us that shook off the BBQ cobwebs from Sunday night, the HR Southwest organizers had supplied us well with piping hot Starbucks coffee.  

I don't care what anyone says, conferences that get the coffee right get a leg up on the entire event.

The early session I attended, with about 50 or so other early risers, was called 'Creativity Boot Camp for Leaders and Trainers', presented by Candy Whirley. Candy did a good job of engaging the attendees at such an early hour with a series of exercises that can be incorporated in various training and team building environments, (identifying your personal approach to creative thinking, building and branding a new team identity using games and props, and organizing the group along behavioral styles).

I think at that early hour, the group did appreciate the interactive nature of the session (an activity called 'Go Fish' was used to illustrate the importance of inclusion and incorporation of diverse thought). Again, the 50 or so attendees seemed to enjoy and identify with the lessons, and Candy was active and lively throughout.

The final activity required the attendees to self-identify into one of four 'animal' groups, Chameleons, Lions, Lambs, and Owls.  I won't get into all the definitions of each group, save to say that about half the attendees, all HR professionals, classified themselves as 'Lambs'. 

That seemed a bit scary to me, about half the room identifying with the 'Lamb' archetype, which from Candy's own book are often successful in occupations like Nurse, Receptionist, and Social Worker.

Which one are you do you think?  Lion, Chameleon, Lamb?

Or something else entirely?

First.