Rewards for good Behaviour

I remember a conversation with a friend and ex-colleague about an assessment he attended for a Retail Management role with a large multinational retailer. This was the type of assessment everyone dreads… a full day of group and individual exercises, closely monitored by several members of HR and Hiring Managers. On arrival, he introduced himself to the first lady he met, the cleaning lady in reception. She asked if he wanted a hot drink, to which he replied, ‘yes, I’ll come with you and let’s make one together.’

He went through the assessment relatively unscathed, and his feedback detailed his scores from the activities, including first impressions made to staff. The ‘cleaning lady’ was actually one of the assessors, and provided feedback on all candidates on the day. He was successful. A high percentage were not!  

Whilst we can’t assume that the unsuccessful candidates were so because of their attitude towards the ‘cleaner’, we also can’t ignore that her feedback played a part in their overall scores.

The moral of the story… there is every reason to treat people with respect and courtesy, inside and out of your business space. You never know how this could benefit you in the short or long term!