March 13, 2024

Dear Reader,

I once read somewhere about a big-time CEO who always conducted interviews for executive-level positions at a fancy restaurant. He would set up an agreement with the restaurant staff to intentionally mess up the candidate's order beforehand so that he could gauge the candidate's reaction to the situation.

He didn't want someone who kept the wrong order because it was too passive. He also didn't want someone who got upset since it showed no emotional restraint over such a small issue. He was looking for someone to politely ask for what they ordered and go on with the interview like it was a non-issue.

I think most people would agree this is a good (at least interesting) way to approach an interview, but why?

On the surface, I think it shows the respect and compassion they have for others. It gives you an idea of the attitude they will have toward the employees, partners, and customers. But just as importantly, I think it says a lot about their decision-making process. How quickly and calmly can they prioritize and manage new problems as they arise?

For myself, I certainly wouldn't care about the food enough to interrupt the interview. Yet, I think there is something to be said about taking 100% responsibility for all my situations, getting what I want for myself, and ensuring all my agreements follow through as intended. After all, how can I be expected to help stand up for others on my team if I can't stand up for myself?

How do you think you would respond?

Chris X