Depending on your personality, the mall can be a fascinating place or a suffocating nightmare. Some people go weekly, some go monthly and some rarely ever go.
Now if you’re an officer or a GM, picture this for a moment. You’re strolling through the mall with your significant other. You pass by a shoe store and maybe you’re staring longingly at the pair of Nikes on display (which also happen to be on sale)! You tilt your head in a fashion similar to Abed from Community because you hear a familiar voice. You turn around only to see that it is your guildmate! He’s at the other side of the store eyeing some golf clubs. They haven’t seen you yet.
Do you:
- Head over there and say “Hey, how’s it going?”
- Decide to say something only if they spot you first.
- Hurriedly exit the store and go somewhere else
If the recruit doesn’t elicit anything other than option 1, it might be worth passing over. First impressions always make a big difference. Mentally run over the players around you and think which option you would go with. Things like skill and competence can be improved but I’ve discovered personality can be difficult to adjust. Not every guild can be in a position where they can pick and choose players with ease. But don’t hesitate to run the mall test every few months or so to see if anyone has changed on your list.
It’s a great technique I picked up from Guy Kawasaki’s Reality Check.
I’m a bit torn on this one, Matt.
It’s a pretty good indicator, and ANYONE you’d run away from would probably not be a good fit, but the way it’s written is a bit too harsh perhaps:
There are people you respect and appreciate, but don’t want to run after every time you see them. I think it’s that second category that I consider more difficult and not quite clean-cut.
Still, love the concept. Thanks for the idea, stealing it this instant (with all due credit 😉 )
Same policy applies to bloggers and blog readers too, yanno!
But, but!
I’m so cute and constructive! *cat eyes*
Great idea, love the concept. Good stuff 🙂
You’ll select people with so-called “social skill” focused on apparence, I encounter lots of jerk which acte like 1) and good people which do 2) or 3). Do Mr #1 will help you in case of probleme ? Do you deserve this help ?
I am afraid this small test will not give you much intersting.
Good luck recruiting 🙂
There is a critical shortage of ifornmaitve articles like this.