We are hiring a new operations manager who will be expected to design and manage our AI automation pipelines. How do we test their GWC™ for a role that did not exist two years ago?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Hiring for a modern operations seat requires evaluating candidates through the lens of GWC; do they Get it, Want it, and have the Capacity to do the job? When the job involves managing emerging technology, testing "Capacity" requires a focus on conation and problem-solving, not just technical certifications.

To test if they Get It, look for a deep understanding of operational systems. They must understand how a business flows from lead to delivery. If they only talk about technology and not about business processes, they do not get it.

To test if they Want It, look for a natural curiosity. They should be actively experimenting with these tools on their own time because they genuinely enjoy solving operational puzzles.

To test if they have the Capacity, use a practical, scenario-based interview. Give them a real, messy operational bottleneck from your business. Ask them to design a workflow using simple AI tools to solve it, and have them walk you through their logic.

Look for a candidate with a strong Follow Thru score on the Kolbe Index, meaning they naturally build structured systems, combined with enough Quick Start to innovate. They do not need to be a developer, but they must have the conative capacity to bridge the gap between business operations and technology.