Fit and aptitude: Choosing the right fit for the right role is a mix of art, science and aptitude
According to a Gallup poll, companies fail to choose the candidate with the right talent for the job a whopping 82% of the time. When you hire wrong, fixing it is virtually impossible, not to mention that the cost of each bad hire can easily be $100,000 or more.
An aptitude test determines an individual's propensity to perform a certain type of work at a certain level. Aptitude tests assume that people have inherent strengths and weaknesses, and have a natural inclination toward success or failure in specific areas based on their innate characteristics.
Companies achieve growth targets through their people. With aptitude testing, you find the right people for the role, give them an environment in which to thrive, and the results can be directly correlated to your bottom line. John Harper's leadership assessment tools can help you interview and select the best talent for the role, the first time.
The importance of talent assessment:
Why a good person could be the wrong choice
People are not held back because of some elusive and mysterious weakness: they are held back because they are either deployed incorrectly or they inherently have the wrong aptitude for the position.
Often people are promoted because they are doing well in their current role, but they don’t have the skills they need for the new role. For example, a high-performing salesperson does not necessarily have the right aptitude to be a sales manager. There are different skill sets required for each. A salesperson works autonomously and is often “the feet on the ground.” A sales manager requires working through others and managing others. The challenge becomes determining the attributes that are the building blocks for performance within that role.
When a person is engaged in an activity that is natural, that person “fits”, and performance is consistent and repeatable. When the activity is not natural, that person is not operating in a sweet spot and performance is unsustainable, difficult and stressful. People who don’t fit can easily descend into dysfunction. With John Harper's employee assessment tools you can build a strong team with the skills to succeed in their roles.
Employment aptitude tests to pick high performers
Traditional hiring processes don’t ensure the right fit for the right position. The default is to look for what you want, rather than what you need. But a person’s education and experience are not necessarily the basis on which to determine suitability for a role.
Unless the person has inherent abilities such as the problem-solving strategies, the ability to quickly learn new skills and integrate new information, or the ability to apply relevant learning to a situation, no amount of training or experience will matter.
John Harper has a highly accurate approach to assess and identify the aptitude of a potential employee for a targeted fit. It’s a complicated concept - but John has the expertise to decipher all the data points - the core needs and expectations of the role, understanding of the work environment, and measures of success for the position - and bring all aspects into rhythm - accurately predicting the candidate’s behaviours and natural characteristics that will take your business to where it needs to go.
The other half of the formula: the science lies in the top-of-market assessment tools John uses such as T.A.I.S., the Birkman Method, Hogan, and KF360. These employment assessment tests are highly validated and renowned for their accuracy, reliability and ability to accurately predict behaviour.
Building effective teams requires a mix of art and science with a dab of instinct. John’s structured approach (utilizing leading assessment tools like the Birkman, T.A.I.S. and Hogan), combined with his deep expertise in team dynamics and his eye for talent spotting has helped me immensely in building my “dream team.” I do not make a move without consulting John, whether it be hiring or firing. He has taken the time to get to know me and my team and provides me with thought-provoking guidance when I need it most.
Sonya Lockyer, CEO
Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres (CATC)