“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

Smart Hiring with Tom Clayton

Jan 23, 2025

Tom Clayton, COO of Peek, is a powerhouse in team building and scaling companies with a unique, data-driven approach. He reveals his employee attribute chart to eliminate biases in hiring and shares why he sends champagne to candidates. Tom discusses the impact of AI on recruitment and the significance of cultural fit in hiring. He even encourages employees to start their own businesses! With insights on managing rapid growth and fostering trust, this conversation is a goldmine for high-performing organizations.

42:45

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Episode guests

Tom Clayton

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Tom Clayton emphasizes the use of a data-driven employee attribute chart to minimize biases and streamline the hiring process for sales roles.

Creating a culture that supports ambition and ethical behavior not only maintains high team performance but also attracts and retains top talent.

Deep dives

The Employee Attribute Chart Overview

The employee attribute chart is a systematic tool used for hiring large numbers of employees in specific roles, particularly in sales. It comprises approximately 20 attributes correlated to success in these roles, and managers score candidates based on their evaluation of these traits. A regression analysis is then conducted against performance data from existing employees to identify the four or five attributes that significantly contribute to success. This focused approach helps streamline the recruiting process and minimizes biases that arise from personal preferences during interviews.

Intro

2min

Elevating Hiring Frameworks

11min

The Impact of Interview Dynamics and AI in Recruitment

4min

Innovative Hiring Practices

16min

The Art of Building and Sustaining Strong Teams

5min

Fostering Entrepreneurship and Trust in the Workplace

5min

Tom Clayton, COO of Peek, shares his unconventional playbook for building world-class teams. From his data-driven "employee attribute chart" to his rule of "don't be a brand b***h," Tom breaks down how he's scaled companies from 50 to 2000+ employees.

He dishes on everything from why he sends champagne to candidates' hotel rooms to why he encourages employees to quit and start their own companies.

If you’re listening on podcast platforms, be sure to check out our Substack or YouTube channel to see Tom’s framework slides onscreen:

Substack: https://hrheretics.substack.com/p/smart-hiring-with-tom-clayton

YouTube: Smart Hiring with Tom Clayton

*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.co

For coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/

HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.

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📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess

Support HR Heretics Sponsor:

Metaview is the AI assistant for interviewing. Metaview completely removes the need for recruiters and hiring managers to take notes during interviews—because their AI is designed to take world-class interview notes for you. Team builders at companies like Brex, Hellofresh, and Quora say Metaview has changed the game—see the magic for yourself: https://www.metaview.ai/heretics

KEEP UP WITH NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

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RELATED LINK:

The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to go from $0 to $100 Million: https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Acceleration-Formula-Technology-Inbound/dp/1119047072

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro(00:37) The Employee Attribute Chart Explained(03:41) Contextual Attributes(05:00) Answering with Cues vs. Direct Questions(10:46) Training Others on the Attribute Chart(11:28) The Value of Multiple Interviews(13:15) Emotional Investment in the Group(14:17) Speed Dating Analogy for Interviews(14:27) Sponsor: Metaview(16:21) Expediting the Interview Process(17:03) Job Simulations and Work Trials(18:36) Difficulties with Senior Exec Simulations(20:39) The Importance of the "Mock Exec Meeting"(21:57) Making Intangibles Tangible(22:54) Evolution of Team Building Attributes(23:09) Team Building and Outreach(26:47) Don't Be a "Brand B***h"(29:11) The Value of Personal Touches(32:31) Sustaining Great Teams During Hyperscale(35:00) Meta's Performance Process(38:39) Encouraging Entrepreneurship(42:23) Altruism in the Industry(42:31) Wrap

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

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