Which is a better interview question?

Which of the two following questions provides more insight into the prospective candidate during a hiring interview?

A. What do you think it are the top key qualities a successful manager has?

or

B. When someone you know quite well says, "I'm thirsty" would you say to yourself, "That's nice" or would you feel compelled to get them a glass of water?

If you picked A, you are wrong. Let's take a look at why.

When you ask someone what they "think" the key qualities of a successful manager are they are free to come up with any answer they choose. It provides no insight into what key qualities they have themselves, only what they perceive are important based on their past managers. The information you receive has nothing to do with the candidate themselves, how they will perform on the job, or how they will communicate and be motivated.

However, if you picked answer B, they you are right! Let's look at what information about the candidate is learned by this question.

There are two general patterns of speaking: literal and inferential. If the candidate says, "That's nice you are thirsty" and does nothing, they are a literal speaker. If they feel compelled to get a glass of water then that is a more inferential speaking pattern.

The literal person will speak directly and many times come off blunt, rude, or disrespectful. They say it as they see it without much empathy many times. The inferential person, "hims and haws" around issues.

For example, a report needs to be done by Friday at 4:00pm.

Literal person: "This report must be done now!"
Inferential person: "Could you get this finished when you are done with that?"

Dad wanting to please his son by making a chocolate cake for his birthday. (Dad really wants to say, literally, "I love you and am making a chocolate cake for the birthday celebration tonight) Dad is inferential, kid is literal:

Dad: "How about I make a chocolate cake?"
Son: "What Cake?"
Dad: "The cake for the birthday."
Son: "Is is my cake?"
Dad: (irritated by now) "Yes, the cake for the birthday."
Son: (irritated now because dad is unclear) "The chocolate cake for tonight."
Dad: "Yes! Geez, I am just trying to tell you I am going to make a chocolate cake for the birthday tonight because I know that it is your favorite and I hope you like it."

Literal and inferential people have challenges communicating very frequently. The literal person is too blunt and the inferential person is way too general. Imagine how miscommunication between employees impact a businesses productivity, office morale, and daily routines.

The Sure Hire Assessment uncovers patterns people run communicating. With the awareness and understanding of people's habits and patterns, you will know who you are hiring.

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