“Look for the best in people and you’ll get the best back.”
Branson “was a born optimist.” He exudes positivity everywhere, and it’s a quality he looks for in others.
He spoke about the time he learned an employee was stealing records from one of his music stores. After meeting with him Branson realized he rebelled in good ways too, so he didn’t fire him. The employee not only stopped stealing, but went on to do great things for the company.
In a similar vein, Branson always chooses to move an underperformer to a more suitable role within the company rather than terminate them outright.
He also likes to promote above what employees expect, and that has served him well. He shared how a cleaning staffer at one of his recording studios went on to become its Managing Director. Similarly, a receptionist in the Canadian office ended up running Virgin’s entire charitable foundation in that country.
One way Branson measures optimism is by observing how much someone praises rather than criticizes. Cheerleaders motivate employees far better than critics, he reasons, so he wants only the former in his companies.
The take-home message
For Branson, three of the most important traits in employees are:
- People skills: relates to and treats others well.
- Risk-taking and grit: isn’t afraid to fail and is determined to succeed.
- Optimism: sees the best in others and sees the best in situations.
He’s not a recruiter per se, but Branson is surely in the business of talent. So since he’s a super happy self-made billionaire, maybe it’s time to think about (or revisit) the personality traits that you need most in your organization, and consider giving them more importance in your hiring decisions.