Sherrie Barch
By Sherrie Barch
Furst Group President
The hospital’s search for a new executive was down to two finalists. They were leaning toward Mark, but it was clear to me that John was a better fit and a stronger leader. So why was John lagging behind as the final interviews approached?
It was simple. John knew he was initially the underdog, and he became so focused on his competition that he neglected the very qualities that had brought him to the table. I pulled him aside.
“This job is yours to lose,” I told him. “You’re managing to your competition instead of touting your strengths. You’re the best candidate. The board likes you. They want to hire you. But you have to forget about the other guy and focus on who you are and what you can do for this organization.”
It worked. John took the hint, got the job, and has been thriving ever since.
I was reminded of this recently as I read an article by Joan Magretta in Harvard Business Review, “Stop Competing to Be The Best.” Read more…
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