In this episode, Marcus Edwardes speaks with Scott Whiteford, Director of Leadership Analytics at Talent Plus. Scott also serves as a Sociology of Leadership Instructor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, an Algebra e-Leadership MBA Lecturer, and as an advisor for Upheaval.

Listen in as Scott shares the best and worse approaches to retention, the true value of experience, and how organizations can evaluate their employees’ strengths.

Scott addresses interview biases, the worst interview question he has ever heard, and how organizations can address and incorporate strength-based diversity.

What You’ll Learn In this Episode:

• [03:14] The typical retention approach.
• [05:34] Driving change in organizations.
• [06:45] Strength management.
• [10:45] Balancing strengths with organizational demands.
• [12:53] The right and wrong sets of skills for leadership.
• [18:26] Helping clients realize that talent is more important.
• [20:34] Where to start.
• [22:35] Minimizing interview biases.
• [24:35] The worst interview question.
• [26:25] Strength identification and development.
• [27:48] What a diverse organization should look like.
• [30:18] Shifting company cultures.
• [32:10] Have we reached the tipping point?
• [34:25] What’s coming up for Scott?

Key Quotes:

• “All leaders have areas of strength, and all leaders have areas of weakness.”
• “There are few jobs where knowledge, skills, and experience really matter.”
• “If you’re focusing on your strengths, you’re going to be happier.”
• “We’re all different. Let’s celebrate those differences.”’
• “There isn’t a right or wrong type of individual.”
• “The diversity of thought is important.”
• “Great leaders promote great ideas.”

Connect with Scott Whiteford

Website:             talentplus.com.

LinkedIn:            Scott Whiteford.

Connect with Marcus Edwardes

Website:             recruitingtrailblazers.com.

LinkedIn:            Marcus Edwardes.