Recalling a Time When Managers or Those

¶ … Recalling a time when managers or those in authority take a Golem type approach to their employees is something that almost everyone in the workforce will encounter at some time or other. One recent experience shows how that can take place quite easily. A young man was hired by a sales manager in the little town of Zanesville, Ohio (population approximately 25,000). The company that he was to work for was a national firm with offices in every state and almost every city. The manager hired the young man though he had little experience in the field of finance, but had some natural ability and experience in the field of sales. The man worked in Zanesville, traveling approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes a day to work and an equal amount home. This quickly became tedious and the young man requested a transfer to the office in nearby Columbus. It was a much larger office and managed higher net worth clients and a lot more money. Upon reaching the new office, the young man overheard the Regional Manager tell the Sales Manager there that he should not put forth much effort in helping the young man as he was "much too rough around the edges, and would never make it in the field of finance." This could have devastated the young man, instead it incentivized him to achieve great things. During the 5 years that he worked in the office, the young man was named Salesman of the Year twice, and won trips to Bermuda and Cancun as part of his rewards. He also quickly amassed a huge portfolio to manage which compensated him quite nicely.

He never forgot what the Regional Manager said, and 5 years later when approached by another firm that offered him a huge bonus and a the title "Vice President of Investments," he quickly accepted the offer and thumbed his nose at the Regional Manager on his way out the door. Motivated to succeed? Definitely.

2. The same answer for one could be applied for this question as well, but another situation comes to mind that is a little bit closer to home. With a name like mine, I am often regarded with some suspicion and distrust, even though I am essentially a nice person. I have been characterized as a foreigner and viewed with distrust, even though I am not one and I am completely trustworthy. The group I am normally constrained to is a bad boy image of someone who treats women badly, may have a nefarious character, and speaks with an accent that few can understand. My true nature is one of high acumen, and a business mind that is very entrepreneurial in substance.

3. If I was interested in changing someone's behavior, and I was in a position of authority and had responsibility for that person, so much so, that the person would actually listen and be influenced by my actions, I believe that I could reinforce their behavior by using positive not negative actions. I would ensure that the behavior was learned by providing different incentives for each step along the route. Each time the person would take the next step in learning the desired behavior, they would be rewarded accordingly. If, by chance there were any backsliding taking place, then the rewards would be taken away, or a punishment would entail.

Whether the person were progressing or regressing, the punishments or rewards would escalate in equal proportion to the learned (or unlearned) behavior.

4. Some of the characteristics that I would like to leave as a lasting impression after a job interview include the ability to communicate in an acceptable and intelligent manner, as well as a sober, intelligent and serious minded candidate. I would watch the interviewer and use body language to get him/her to relax. Such actions as leaning back, opening the body, making eye contact, and spreading your arms displays the sense that you are an open-minded individual and one who is comfortable within his own skin. Expressing oneself in an articulate manner is also important and using key words such as teamwork, team player and collaborator is almost always helpful in job interviews.