One of the highlights of last summer was working at the Major League Baseball Field of Dreams event. I was so hoping that I would be chosen to repeat the experience this year.
When I first was hired, we were required to complete an application, background check, and interview. Yesterday, I received an email: “Hello Field of Dreams Staff Alumni! We would love to have you back on our team for 2022. If you are a returning team member, there will not be an interview — the job is yours!” Yeah!!
Not only is this exciting for me, but it also makes so much sense from their perspective. Why take the time and trouble to put people through a process when it is very likely that they will pass it? But we do it when we require internal candidates to interview even though we plan to hire them. Or when we make people repeat information that is already in our system instead of just asking if anything has changed. Or when we have blood donors go through a lengthy intake questionnaire even if they are regulars.
Before you implement a process, consider whether there is a way to streamline who needs to use it. Give those you know the benefit of that knowledge with an intentional walk to first base.
