Unlocking Team Potential: The Power of Recurrent Interviews

Harutyun Baghdasaryan
4 min readFeb 5, 2024

Remember the time and effort you invested in interviewing potential team members? It was a crucial process to identify the right fit, set fair expectations, and align the candidate’s aspirations with your company’s goals. But what if I told you that the practice of interviewing doesn’t end with the hiring process? Recurrently interviewing your key team members can be a powerful strategy to ensure alignment and realistic expectations.

It can be current but not often, and you should decide how often it can be. My recommendation is to keep it once a year for your key players.

Creating a Safe Environment

The key to successful recurrent interviews lies in establishing a safe and open environment. This setting allows all parties involved to negotiate openly, unburdened by the hierarchical dynamics of the workplace. Forget about the titles and positions; focus on fostering a space where genuine conversations about expectations can take place.

Critical strategies for maintaining a safe environment include:

  1. Feedback Mechanisms: Encouraging structured feedback mechanisms within these interviews, allowing both parties to learn and improve continuously.
  2. Diversity and Inclusion: Highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives and voices to foster innovation and a strong team dynamic.
  3. Measuring Impact: Proposing metrics to track the impact of recurrent interviews on team performance and employee satisfaction, offering valuable insights for refinement.

Mastering recurrent interviews goes beyond just the setting — it involves embodying a role model for open communication. Your working style becomes the blueprint for a secure space where everyone can voice their thoughts freely. Imagine your approach as the grant that unlocks genuine conversations. So, not only set the stage but also be the guiding force that empowers a culture of open dialogue.

Continued Learning

Post-hiring interviews provide a unique opportunity to continue the learning process. Just as you did during the hiring process, recurrent interviews allow you to understand your team members better, their evolving expectations, and how well they align with the team’s objectives. It’s an ongoing exploration that contributes to the growth and adaptability of both the individual and the team.

Honesty and Negotiation

In this safe space, team members can openly share their conditions for continued engagement. They can express their ideal roles and preferred responsibilities and even outline tasks they’d rather avoid. Recurrent interviews facilitate honest conversations about expectations, creating a platform for negotiation that benefits both parties.

Benefits of Recurrent Interviews

  1. Improved Communication: Regular interviews enhance communication within the team, fostering transparency and openness.
  2. Alignment of Expectations: By consistently discussing expectations, both parties remain aligned, reducing the chances of misunderstandings and conflicts.
  3. Adaptability: Teams evolve, and so do individual aspirations. Recurrent interviews allow for continuous adaptation to changing circumstances.
  4. Opportunity for Improvement: Identifying areas of improvement becomes an ongoing process, leading to a more effective and efficient team dynamic.

Recurrent Interviews Questions

Cracking the code for recurrent interviews is all about asking the right questions! Here are some examples to get those genuine conversations flowing:

1. Why our company? 🌐 Dive into the candidate’s vision and values, discovering the magnetic pull that brought them to your doorstep.

2️. Dream Responsibilities? 🚀 Let’s turn the spotlight on what fuels their passion. Uncover the tasks that make their professional heart race.

3️. Company Enhancements 💡 Seek their insights on how to elevate the company. A fresh perspective might just be the key to innovation.

4️. Ownership 101 🛠️ Define the boundaries. What should and shouldn’t be under their professional umbrella? Clarify expectations to foster a healthy work dynamic.

5️. Expectation Talk 💭 Explore their wishlist. By understanding their expectations, you pave the way for a journey aligned with both parties’ aspirations.

Master these questions, and watch your recurrent interviews transform into a canvas of meaningful dialogues!

Conclusion

The practice of recurrent interviews extends beyond the conventional hiring process. It transforms into a powerful tool for continuous improvement, fostering honest communication, and aligning expectations. By creating a safe space for negotiation, both you and your team members can actively contribute to a workplace that thrives on mutual understanding and adaptability. So, why stop the interview process after hiring? Embrace the concept of recurrent interviews and unlock the full potential of your team.

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Harutyun Baghdasaryan

Technology leader with a demonstrated history of helping individuals, teams, and leaders create success.