Willie Nelson sang ͞My Heroes have always been Cowboys.
About 10 years ago I read the book “Fred Factor” by Mark Sanborn. In the book are some suggested question to use in interviews. Whenever I give a job interview I ask what I call the ”Fred Factor” questions.
My favorite question is “who are your heroes?”
The question is very open ended and I don’t have a specific thing I am looking for but rather something I making sure the person doesn’t say. I’m looking for the person to give me the name of somebody the actually know.
I have gotten all kinds of answers in the past. For example, I’ve had people tell me Oprah or Hollywood movies stars. Those are red flags. It's such an impersonal answer say about yourself.
Who admits in public person they hold in highest regard is somebody they don’t really know. What I hear this person saying this person has given them a public persona they look up to. They are telling me the people in their lives don’t compare to fictional or distant people. It leaves me completely unimpressed.
Back here on Earth what am looking for is for the person to tell me about somebody they know, live with or around. Somebody from their world.
My follow up question going is, why are they your hero? I want the person being interviewed to be able to relate the person to themselves. To be clear most of the time the person being interviewed gives me a great answer.
Recently we kicked off a session with young leaders at Willmar Electric. The people in the session came from multiple departments within our company, some of the people in the group hardly knew each other. As part of the introduction I had everybody answer some personal questions, so we could get to know each other better.
One of the questions was of course. Who are your heroes?
Everybody gave me a good answer. No politicians or People magazine heroines.
Within the group of ten, seven had the same answer. Their Dad. (Sorry, Willie but no Cowboys listed as heroes among this group). Each spoke of different reasons why and in the cases of some in the room their Dad had passed away making it just a little more of a tender moment. (To be fair, two of us share the same Dad!)
It was quite moving. A room full of people and so many said the same thing, "my Dad."
As a father it was very humbling. People want to look up to their Dad and in the young leader’s session so many did. Dads can make a difference.
But it also hit home for a second reason. It has to do with the highlight of my week.
I went on a business trip with two co-workers, Brandon Lee and Paul Latimer, the two day prior to the young leaders. After two long days on the road the trip ended in Paul’s driveway. When his two daughters saw him, they came to the door and started screaming. Daddy, Daddy. The screaming morphed into a steady chant, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!!! He could hardly get his bag inside without being attacked.
It was very moving. How cool, his kids missed him so much and where so excited to see them arrive home. Brandon and I literally snuck away so we wouldn’t interrupt this fun homecoming.
I guess Dad’s really do matter. So, I better make sure I’m being the best Dad I can be. A good reminder as I get ready for my three children to return home for the holidays.
