Why Job Descriptions are Not Effective,” with Maria Forbes, FIREPOWER Business Catalyst, LLC
Maria Forbes: [00:00:00] Job descriptions don’t work. They give us a laundry list of day-to-day tasks and credentials. We understand two things, typically, from a job description. We understand what the cognitive needs are for that role, which are, you know, what do they need to know? What’s their knowledge base? What’s the skills and education and experience that are required to fulfill this role? The other thing that the job description tells us is, as I said, the laundry list of tasks that need to be done.
Maria Forbes: [00:00:30] So, what happens when the leader says, “I wish I could get my people thinking outside the box,” which I hear a lot? Well, you’ve hired them based on this list of tactical duties and responsibilities. You didn’t hire them with the vision for them that they could make a contribution to the growth goal. So, we didn’t integrate their unique abilities into that hiring process. And that’s what we need to do to improve. So, that’s why job descriptions don’t work.
Maria Forbes: [00:01:01] When we do role descriptions, we’re adding another element to the job description that is cognitive. And the cognitive part of the mind is, it tells us how a person innately needs to execute in a role. So, we’re looking at how do they need to execute? How do they need to participate in the growth plan along with their day-to-day tasks and their knowledge base? So, it’s a much more robust description of that role.
Maria Forbes, CEO – Chief Engagement Officer, FIREPOWER Business Catalyst, LLC
Maria’s thirty-year consulting career serves privately held business owners in financial services and related fields across the U.S. Our mission is to integrate financial capital with Human capital in planning for organizational growth and continuity. Maria’s work frames the long-term trajectory of business growth and succession through people-powered structures that enable an ongoing positive impact of talent through all business life cycles.
Maria and her teams provide expertise in expanding internal capacity, through creative alignment of human values, making it possible for owners and key decision-makers to lead both their people and their businesses confidently toward the future. As a committed strategic partner to her clients, Maria makes visible the arrangement of human strengths as part of an innovative business strategy. This work optimizes organizational performance and builds transferrable value, as owners look toward a role transition and business succession.
Maria conducts a summer mentor program for college graduates and seasoned professionals who are navigating career transition. The mentor process develops personal advantage in the career marketplace and fosters confidence in communicating the best roles for a successful new career.
Maria is a Kolbe Certified Consultant, Faculty member of The Life Transitions University™, Mentor, and member of the Catholic Charities Atlanta Georgia Leadership Program. She is also a Board member of the Exit Planning Exchange, Atlanta Chapter.
You can find the complete North Fulton Business Radio interview here.
The “One Minute Interview” series is produced by John Ray and in the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link.
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