Your Reference.

"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do."
~ Henry Ford.

There comes a time when we're used as a reference. What do we say? Do we stick to the safe stuff? Do we just go with the dates and duties?

All of us have got things we need to work on - stuff we can do better. None of us are perfect. If we've worked with anyone for some time we know what their weaknesses are - and we know their strengths. Do we go with the soft "really nice guy" and a few generic kudos or elaborate?

We want to do the right thing - for both the candidate and the company asking. So each of us ends up making our own decisions on what, and how much, we say about the good, the bad and the ugly. But really every reference call comes down to one simple question doesn't it?

One question that could cut through all the crap. Quiet Professionals ask it all the time. Most others don't. ~ Why? ~ Because the question puts us on the line much more than the person we're talking about.

So what's that question?

"Is He Any Good?"

References aren't about the candidate - they're about us.