Which person would you employ?

[Rossita]

Which of these two people would you employ? For a bit of background they both started at the company at the same time and they’re both currently doing the same job. The vacancy they are both applying for is a promotion and will involve managing the department that they currently work in. The role does not require any professional qualifications.

Person A:
Highly qualified to PHD level in an unrelated field.
Has some experience from a previous role that helps in her current position.
Works very well alone and produces some really good work.
Is very committed to the department
Does not work so well as part of a team.
Can sometimes act a little ‘superior’ and has upset every other member of the team at some point.
Does not accept any constructive criticism and believes that her way is the only way to do things.

Person B
Qualified to GCSE level
Has previous experience that helps in her current role.
Is committed to the department.
Produces some really good work.
Sometimes struggles to work alone as she can lack in self confidence and needs to ask advice from other team members.
Is very much a team player, she is good at building professional relationships.
Has on several occasions managed a project which showed she was a good leader.
She is not always great at delegating so ends up taking on too much work herself.

I’ve posted here so people could vote because it makes it easier to see the overall opinion.

YABU Person A
YANBU person B

Can't vote on my phone. I choose B

Person B can learn and improve and get more confident with time, even if they need some help at the start. The fact that person A has upset everyone at some point is a big No, she will probably get worse with a bit more 'power'

Depends on what the job needs really.

B. Feel like person A would let their new title go to their head a bit and have a power trip

B

B

I'd choose B too
The fact that she is happy to ask for help is a good sign in my eyes

B, with support and training or mentoring they can improve their delegation skills and self-confidence. A sounds like there’s more work to undo in-built aspects of their personality, but I’d be prepared that A would not react well to B being promoted above them.

Neither - I'd hire externally.

Like hell would I pick A!
B has skills gaps that can be filled.
A has a head so big there's no room to fill anything

Neither go external, if person b can't delgegate they can't run a department.

B

B: what she is weak on can more easily be improved.

The trouble is person A will make person B’s life difficult and will knock her confidence. Is there an option of an outside candidate?

Neither, but B if I had to choose.

Doesn't sound like A is suited to a management position at all, as she can't work well with other people. Recipe for disaster.

However, I would also have concerns about B's lack of confidence and inability to delegate. Asking for help is not in itself a weakness, but you need to have enough confidence as a manager to be able to make your own decisions, otherwise you will just get steered by whichever member of the team shouts the loudest.

It might depend on how open B is to feedback and whether she is capable of addressing her weaknesses with appropriate support.

Neither.
Management can be a lonely place and 'good team players' often struggle to make the necessary calls. As B can't delegate either, B will crack under the pressure in 6 months.

Neither, go outside the team

Neither.

A will do things their own way (incorrectly), B is unable to use their own initiative as she lacks confidence and is unable to delegate when appropriate.

B can grow and improve, sounds like they have a solid foundation to build on and the ability to do that building.

A sounds like an abrasive personality who will only get worse with more power and won't get the best from the team.
I also suspect that you'll have resignations from people that find working under A seriously unpleasant. Possibly even people going long term sick from stress.

Is this a management role that simply focuses on project tasks or does the manager also need to haNdle the touchy-feels things like employee interactions, request for leave, etc. if it’s the former, hire a. If it’s a job that focuses on people, not tasks, I would consider b, but would rather expand the search for a stronger candidate.

B. You can learn to delegate. With B you are getting someone your team likes & (presumably) respects. She knows the company & what the job entails.

A sounds like a nightmare who should definitely not be given power over people.

You're clearly B. Honestly, none if us can decide based on the limited information provided here. It's why interviews take an hour and can't be compressed into 6 bullet points.

Neither... Go external if possible

It sounds like you are person B and the view of person A (Second paragraph) is your opinion?

@Terrace58

Is this a management role that simply focuses on project tasks or does the manager also need to haNdle the touchy-feels things like employee interactions, request for leave, etc. if it’s the former, hire a. If it’s a job that focuses on people, not tasks, I would consider b, but would rather expand the search for a stronger candidate.

Yes it’s very much a role that involves a lot of the touchy feely stuff.

Thanks all. You’ve given me a lot to think about.