Drawing Out the Best in Interview Teams
Posted by sreynolds on Jul. 7, 2023 / Subscribe 0
Drawing Out the Best in Interview Teams
Written By Jana Brickey, CPSM
Public speaking might not be the strongest skill for every architect and engineer. Yet, we often expect them to ace it. It's essential to remember that these professionals chose their fields due to their love for the creative process, numerical acumen, and organizational prowess. Not everyone can juggle these skills along with being an eloquent speaker—it's like hunting for a unicorn.
Let me paint a picture of an incident that unfolded during a recent interview preparation session. The project executive I was assisting was full of energy during the pre-marketing and proposal phase, animatedly discussing the project and its team. But when we shifted to the mock interview, their delivery stuttered, and their personality dimmed—quite a mystery to me.
Then, an intriguing shift happened. During a one-on-one strategy session, the project executive relaxed while handling an interview-related prop. Their speech flowed as they toyed with the prop, but once it was set aside, their eloquence diminished, and their earlier nervousness reappeared. It struck me that the prop served as an outlet for their kinetic energy, helping to focus their thoughts and make the conversation more engaging.
As an advocate for the idea that the selection panel chooses those they envision working with for the coming years, instead of forcing these individuals to change, we should capitalize on their distinctive strengths. How can I leverage this revelation about architects and engineers for future benefit?
Below, I'm not detailing strategies from a book, a Google search, or a request from ChatGPT. These are my personal tactics to bring out the best from my interview team, without trying to alter their essence.
One of the first things you should do in interview prep is foster an environment where the individual feels at ease seeking clarification and expressing themselves. Encourage positivity.
Listen and observe attentively. Learn about the individuals on your team, not just their project roles. Observations about their personalities can hint at their interview demeanor. Perhaps the lively one needs to tone it down, the reserved one could use a confidence boost, and the engineer might just benefit from that fidget spinner you snagged at the 2019 SMPS event.
Post your initial meeting, formulate a structured plan for the presentation—outline key points, segment the presentation, and allocate graphics. A solid structure fosters confidence and preparation. Remember, the structure can vary based on individual needs. One may need an outline, another may need visuals, and another may just need to take notes on their own.
Next, chunk the presentation into bite-sized tasks. Concentrating on one task at a time minimizes feeling overwhelmed and boosts focus. These tasks should tap into everyone’s strengths and interests in the presentation topic. Encourage them to weave their unique insights or areas of expertise into the presentation.
Guide the individual in practicing their presentation individually and in a group. Provide constructive feedback on aspects like delivery, body language, pacing, and tone. Do not make this a session about everything they did wrong. Be sure to also focus on the positives of their individual presentation style.
Look for alternative methods to help tap into individual learning and retention style. I recently implemented the following activity to further boost tactile learning. Ask your presenter to write down the one key message for each slide. I personally limit it to one sentence only. The process of writing it down involves multiple senses and strengthens memory recall.
Let’s also debunk some public speaking myths.
Encourage your presenters to use gestures—they can accentuate key points, depict emotions, and engage the audience. Research indicates that incorporating gestures can enhance audience engagement and information retention.
And when they're not speaking? Encourage a relaxed demeanor. Be patient with habits such as crossed arms—it won't change overnight. Avoid drawing undue attention to their posture, preventing them from looking mechanical in front of the selection panel.
Architects and engineers have their unique strengths and it's time we acknowledged that. Public speaking is a skill that can be honed, but it isn't the be-all and end-all of their professional capabilities. By understanding and fostering their individual strengths, we can shape more authentic and engaging presentations. Encouraging natural gestures, comfortable posture, and utilizing different learning styles can lead to successful outcomes. Instead of trying to mold them into something they are not, let's strive to bring out the best version of who they truly are. After all, we are looking for architects and engineers, not just eloquent speakers. Let's redefine the success of a presentation by the uniqueness of the individuals and the value they bring to the table.
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