Those of you who’ve been paying any attention at all to the news lately are, I’m sure, aware that in February, 17 year-old Trayvon Martin, while walking through a Sanford, Florida community, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman the neighborhood watch captain.

Thankfully, most people don’t experience a sudden shift from feeling normal to the scary, distorting depersonalization depicted in Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream”.  But the notion that one’s personality can change (unlike eye color and voice) is gaining some traction.  There are important implications for organizations.

One of the core management functions for any organization is selection: how do we find productive people that fit the culture, the paradigm, the zeitgeist of the organization?  A key skill in the selection process is conducting the behavioral interview, especially in a self-managed ecosystem where every affected stakeholder should have a say in who joins his or her team.

A 1991 Chrysler LeBaron convertible coupe in good condition, sold on the street, is valued at about $1,100 by Kelley Blue Book.  In stark contrast, a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500SL convertible coupe in good condition, with similar mileage, is valued at about $5,000.