In a dynamic scenario like today, sometimes choices have to be made between skills and attitude and it is a question of great prominence with HR managers across industries. In our latest Twangout session with Dhruv Desai, Senior Vice President, Human Resource & Learning Academy, Angel Broking, we discussed the merits of going back to the basics of HR and relooking at the importance of attitude when hiring and managing our employees.

As technology is evolving, we are including more psychometrics into our assessment processes. These are highly useful and are slowly becoming integral to the hiring processes. However, sometimes we are missing out on measuring attitude which is very significant. Dhruv says that we should go back to the triangle of skill, knowledge and attitude. We should look at attitude through talent and competencies, for the role that we are hiring for and place people in organizations so that the organizational objectives are also met. It is possible to measure the attitude of a candidate; the HR only needs to be more imaginative and innovative. Another way to lead the change can be to measure attitude by games which work as psychometric tests.

While hiring fresh graduates from college campuses, we look at academic scores as a measure of aptitude, we look at the knowledge they have attained and we look at emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence can be measured by an incumbent’s self-awareness, his self-management, social awareness and his ability at relationship management. When these freshers come to an organization, they act as a sponge and absorb the traits they see. This is when attitudes are formed.

When talking about how attitude can be guided to align with company policies, Dhruv makes a point in saying that “It depends greatly upon the HR department’s attitude”. Quoting the example of a start-up, entrepreneurism is required as an attitude. It is about showing the employee the right attitude which will be portrayed back as the vision of the individual aligns with the company. Skills and aptitude can develop, however attitude takes a long time. When talking about senior employees, it is a good idea to provide life coaching. It can help unfreeze behaviors of even senior employees.

Key Takeaways:

• Remember the basic triangle of skill, knowledge and attitude.
• Measure attitude by games which can work as psychometric tests.
• It is about showing the employee the right attitude which will be portrayed back, as the vision of the individual aligns with the company.
• It is a good idea to provide life coaching to senior employees to help unfreeze behaviors.
• Fresh graduates are like a sponge as they absorb the traits they see. This is when attitudes are formed.