I got one those calls a manager gets when a staff member is looking for new employment.  “Hi, this is Ms. Jones from A Very Big Corporation.  Susan Yaddayadda has submitted an application for employment and I would like to get your opinion of her work.”  The questions about Ms. Yaddayadda went as expected, including the obligatory, “And what would be Susan’s areas of weakness.”  I have developed a response to this question that mirrors my philosophy of people.  “I don’t really know what her weaknesses are, I try to never have her do anything that would cause her to fail.”  We went on to discuss workplace duties and situations in which I thought Susan would excel, and I mentioned a few areas that I have learned were a mistake for me to assign to her.  I made sure to mention that the lack of success of any project was not due to a weakness on Susan’s part, but on my not having paid attention as her manager.

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