Warren Buffett recently appointed his successor to the Berkshire Hathaway company.
When hiring, Buffett says there are three things to look for in someone.
- Integrity
- Intelligence
- Energy
He says if they don’t have the first one, the other two will kill you.
Integrity is essential to be an effective and respected leader. It creates trust, respect and optimism.
One can have intelligence and energy but if integrity is lacking, so will sustainability. People may be briefly inspired or energized. In time, trust erodes commitment.
In integrity’s absence, intelligence or energy can be misdirected. We have seen numerous companies fail when the first quality is missing.
Integrity comes from the heart. Long term results occur when one’s emotions and gut are consistently aligned in the right place, guiding intelligence and energy.
Your organization does not have to be on the scale of Warren Buffett’s. These hiring guidelines can apply to any size organization in any situation.