When building a team, the common inclination is to seek out individuals with years of experience, proven expertise, and a shiny CV. However, this may not always be the best approach, especially if you’re playing the long-term game with your business. Instead, hiring for passion and attitude, rather than talent alone, can yield far better results in the long run.
Why Passion and Attitude Matter More
Imagine you have two candidates for a position. The first has years of experience, boasting an impressive skill set and a long list of accomplishments. The second may have less experience, but they demonstrate spirit, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn. It may seem logical to lean towards the more experienced candidate, but choosing the latter can often prove to be the better choice.
Here’s why: skills can be learnt. While training someone to develop new competencies is relatively straightforward, cultivating passion, work ethic, and a positive attitude is much harder, if not impossible. Building character is certainly possible, but it requires a far greater investment of time and effort.
The Three Traits That Matter Most
So why are these traits—passion, attitude, and character—so important? It all comes down to three critical qualities that every business should prioritise:
- Character = Integrity
Passionate individuals tend to have strong character, and this often translates into integrity. They genuinely care about their work and how they contribute to the team. This sense of responsibility means they are more likely to be honest, ethical, and consistent in their efforts. - Attitude = Work Rate
Attitude drives action. A person with a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude is much more likely to put in the effort to get the job done, regardless of the challenges they face. They won’t be deterred by obstacles, and their work rate will reflect their determination to succeed. - Reliability = Results
A person’s character and attitude combine to make them reliable. Reliability, in turn, leads to results. You can count on someone with the right attitude and character to deliver what is expected of them, if not more.
It’s a simple equation: Character + Attitude = Results. Hiring individuals with these traits ensures that your team is not only capable but committed.
The EOS Approach: Get It, Want It, Capacity to Do It
Another helpful framework to evaluate potential hires is the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), which focuses on three key factors:
- Get it: Does the person truly understand the role? Do they grasp the expectations, the challenges, and the potential rewards?
- Want it: Does the candidate genuinely desire the position and its responsibilities? Are they enthusiastic about the opportunity, or are they simply seeking another job?
- Capacity to do it: While passion and attitude are critical, a candidate must also have the capacity to perform the job. This includes both the natural talents they possess and the willingness to develop new skills over time.
This EOS framework dovetails perfectly with the philosophy of hiring for passion and attitude. When you find someone who ‘gets it’, ‘wants it’, and has the ‘capacity to do it’, you are far more likely to secure a long-term, valuable team member.
Conclusion
Ultimately, businesses should be playing the long game. The skills a person has today may not be as important as their potential to grow, adapt, and contribute in the future. Passion, attitude, and character are the traits that will drive your team forward. Skills can be taught, but a strong work ethic, integrity, and a positive outlook are far harder to instil. For those reasons, always hire for passion and attitude—it’s all that really matters.
