Paul Lyons explains the characteristics of Mentally Tough people and five reasons why they are great for company culture.
When I was CEO for Ambition it was well known that we had a “No Dickheads No Passengers” hiring policy to maintain our company culture. We didn’t want to recruit egos or people just along for the ride and consequently our culture became a positive ‘people first’ culture that had benefits for longevity, performance and engagement. This also had the important ripple effect of responsive and professional services to clients and candidates, in turn increasing the quality of the brand reputation. Less well known, but just as important for us and our culture, was identifying and selecting people with the grit and resilience to create opportunity from adversity and who could overcome the normal day to day setbacks that recruiters encounter to achieve sustained success.
Knowing what I know now, we were looking for people with Mental Toughness.
There are five reasons that these Mentally Tough people are great for company culture.
1. They are more positive and confident
Mentally Tough people possess greater self-belief and approach life more positively. This “can do” attitude leads to greater rapport and connectivity with colleagues and so a more vibrant and energetic culture.
2. They are more engaged and reliable
Mentally Tough people make promises and commitments that they honour and stick with through to the end. They don’t give up. This characteristic is great for company culture because no matter how tough it gets, these people will be by your side and you can rely on them. They are more engaged because they can see and believe in your vision and they don’t take sick days just because its Monday!
3. They manage stress better
Because Mentally Tough people are calmer, more content and self assured, they manage stress much better. They are ideal people to have in a crisis or period of great organisational change because they can keep their emotions in check, ride the waves and not be diverted off course. This is good for your company culture because they are less inclined to panic or undermine the culture.
4. They are more motivated and ambitious
Mentally Tough people are naturally more motivated to achieve their goals and also possess greater confidence in their ability to do so. This approach is infectious and generates a great energy in your company’s culture.
5. They perform better
It is simple. Mentally Tough people perform at a higher level. Research has shown it to be up to 25% better. Improved performance creates a high performance culture which has got to be great for your company culture AND your bottom line.
The good news is that Mental Toughness can be measured through the MTQ48 instrument and then developed and improved through everyday techniques.
Paul Lyons is an experienced recruitment company CEO in Australia and Asia who recognises the importance of Mental Toughness in the creation of a positive company culture. He works in conjunction with AQR International, a consultancy that works to improve the Mental Toughness of individuals and organisations.
For more information on building company culture visit MTQ48 or contact us.