Jeff Bezos explains why it's important to hire people who are ‘a little bit annoying’
You might think that managers would want to avoid hiring 'annoying' people at all costs - they're the ones that have to manage them, after all.
But Jeff Bezos - who, let's face it, is a very successful businessman - believes annoying people are actually part of the key to success.
The Amazon founder spoke about the kind of attributes he looks for in employees during a discussion on Innovation in the Space Industry and Blue Origin in 2019.
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In the conversation, he shared a couple of questions that managers should be asking themselves when promoting or hiring people, including: "Does this person like to be innovative?" and "Do they have a bit of a pioneering spirit?”
Bezos went on to point out that good candidates can also be 'a little bit annoying'.
He explained: "They might be a little bit radical, a bit of a rebel - they're not always the easiest people to get along with."
If the thought of having to deal with a rebel on your team is making your palms sweat, just hear the idea out.
Bezos insisted these are the type of people you want in your organization, even if they may be 'mavericks' - though he admitted it's best to bring such workers in in moderation.
"They're a spice. I wouldn't recommend having 90 percent mavericks," he continued.
"You have to teach the value that these people bring, but also I would push hard on the mavericks to say 'you also have to be organized'. You can't just be a crazy person," Bezos said.
"It's fine to be a maverick but, write your ideas down, sell your ideas, persuade, create the conditions where the ideas can blossom."
So there's definitely still some management to be done when hiring these 'annoying' people, but if it's good enough for Bezos, it's good enough for me!
The Amazon founder isn't the only one who's found benefits in hiring people they might butt heads with, as researcher Francesca Gino has also shared why differing opinions can be a good thing.
The author of Rebel Talent: Why it Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life explained: "As humans, we often focus on just one perspective, and generally it’s our own.
“Whether it’s in conversations or in meetings, we often seek out the opinions of people who have something similar to offer. What rebels do is fight that instinct. They find ways to steer some conflict or encourage disagreement.”
So next time you're going for a job interview, or hiring for a new position, maybe keep the rebel idea in mind!
Topics: Business, Psychology, Amazon, Jeff Bezos
Emily Brown