问题
我是一家公司的董事，正在物色一名新的首席执行官。我们发现有一个人似乎很有希望：他有着出色的从业记录、高调、活力十足，而且很有魅力。
我们对他做的一些背景调查显示，他脾气暴躁，与他共事可能不太容易，但优点似乎大于缺点。就在我们即将向他发出工作邀请函时，我们发现，他的私人助理们显然认为他令人难以忍受：他两年内换了12位私人助理。我们是否应该因此让他出局？
董事，男，52岁
露西的答案
我知道一个人，与你描述的这个"很有希望"的人很相似。他半年内换了6位私人助理，换过的妻子和女友也差不多这个数。当他想表现出魅力的时候，他很有魅力；其它时候则总是脾气暴躁。然而，他为股东们赚了大笔钱，也肥了自己的腰包――其中很多都捐给了公益事业。如果他频繁更换私人助理的习惯阻碍了他的晋升的话，这个世界本会变得更穷。
但他这种恶劣行为之所以可以容忍，原因与他所处的行业有关。他是一只对冲基金的首席执行官。他所管理的是一项规模不大的业务，人们付钱给他让他成为一位光彩夺目的明星。如果他赚取了不菲的回报，其它一切都可以原谅。可让一个确实很讨厌的人免受责罚的行业并没有多少。人们可以在某种程度上容忍电影导演、流行歌星、或许还有编辑的恶劣行为，但总体来看，这种行为是不可接受的。
如果你的公司是制造钢珠轴承或卖食品杂货的，那对于你说的这个人，我连考虑都不会考虑。一名标准首席执行官的职责，并不像你说的这个人那样要做到活力十足、富有魅力和高调，而是要为公司确定基调、招聘合适的人才并把他们留住。他频繁更换私人助理的做法表明，他不知道从何着手。
这个人是那种在上级看来富有魅力、对下级而言却不受欢迎的人。在他刚迈入职场时，这种表现可能不太重要，因为那时所有人都是他的上级。但作为一名潜在的首席执行官，也就是说所有人都成为他的下级，这种表现就变成了一场灾难。至少，我建议你更深入的调查一番。很多读者建议你直接问问他这件事。我认为这样做没多大意义。我可以保证，他会说自己是一位完美主义者，不会容忍蠢人――这是所有首席执行官都会说的话。相反，你应该去问问某些被他炒掉的私人助理。不要问他们为何辞职――尽管这个问题很有趣――而是请他们就是否应该聘用这个人提供一些建议。私人助理是与老板关系最密切的人；实际上，如果他们在甄选过程中有发言权的话，最终的决定可能会更合理。
读者的建议
数字会说话
他实现了所有的业绩目标，没有一个私人助理能为你做到这点。数字会说话；如果他真是一个不讲道理的小霸王的话，他不可能取得现有的业绩。问题出在那家最初负责员工招聘的机构身上，它应该首先做下个性匹配、沏上一杯好茶和相关人等谈谈。
董事的私人助理，女
另择他人
你肯定得这么做。损失一名私人助理可以说不幸，损失12名私人助理则决非粗心所能造成的。这个人肯定令人无法忍受。另择他人吧。
董事，男
他就是你要找的那个人
聘用他吧。他绝对合适。你居然会提这样一个问题！这一事实表明，你的公司（特别是握有实权的董事会）已默许了一种被偶尔的虚伪关切所掩盖的无礼企业文化。真有你的，居然提这样的问题！
前企业界人士，男，48岁
把他的薪资与私人助理挂钩
聘用他，但要在他的合同上规定：每年若新聘一位私人助理，他的可变收入就要减少10%。你会发现下一位私人助理在你公司任职的时间会与他一样长。
退休人士，匿名
选我吧
他需要一位适应能力强的聪明人，这人得能应付某人富有挑战性的行为、同时应为此获得不菲的收入。我能把我的履历发给你吗？
私人助理，女
招惹官司的定时炸弹
24个月换12名私人助理让我感到这个人会带来麻烦。如果你想当那位序位为幸运数字13、对你公司提起重大诉讼的私人助理的雇主，就大胆聘用这个人吧。
董事，女，40岁
聘用一名重量级私人助理
如果根据控制脾气的能力来评估拿破仑(Napoleon)、蒙哥马利(Montgomery)或邱吉尔(Churchill)的话，他们永远不会成为领袖。
如果他不错，就聘用他吧，同时再选一个前海军陆战队员或前职业英式橄榄球运动员担任他的私人助理。
如果连这样威猛彪悍的小伙子都应付不了他的话，那好吧，临时工中介机构终于有用武之地了。
匿名，男
译者/梁艳裳
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001037946
The Problem
I am on the board of a company that is looking for a new chief executive. We have found someone who seems very promising: he has a great record, a high profile and is dynamic and charismatic.
Some of the background we have done on him suggests that he has a short fuse and can be a bit difficult to work with, but the positives seem to outweigh the negatives. We were just about to offer it to him when we discovered that his PAs evidently find him impossible: he has been through 12 in two years. Should this rule him out?
Director, male, 52
Lucy's answer
I know a man who sounds just like the "very promising" one you describe. He gets through half a dozen PAs a year � and almost as many wives and girlfriends. He is charming when he feels like it but is also given to mammoth temper tantrums. He has, however, made a vast amount of money for his shareholders � and a vast amount for himself, much of which he has given away to good causes. The world would have been poorer if his PA habit had barred his advance.
But what makes his beastly behaviour just about OK is the line of business he is in. This man is a hedge fund chief. He runs a small operation and is paid to be a dazzling star. If he makes outstanding returns, everything else can be forgiven. There aren't many other lines of business where one can get away with being a truly awful person. There is some tolerance for it among film directors, pop stars, possibly editors, but on the whole it's unacceptable.
If your company makes steel ball bearings or sells groceries, I wouldn't even consider him. The job of a regular chief executive isn't just to be the things you say this man is � dynamic and charismatic and high profile. It is to set a tone in the organisation. It is to recruit the right people and make them stay. The revolving door to his PA's office suggests he has no idea how to begin.
This man is the sort who is charming to those above and foul to those below. When he was starting out this may not have mattered as everyone was above him. But as a potential CEO, when everyone is below him, it's a disaster. At the least, I suggest you do a bit more digging. Lots of readers suggest you ask him about it directly. I don't think there is much point in this. I can guarantee that he will say that he's a perfectionist and he doesn't suffer fools � which is what all CEOs say. Instead, you should ask some of the PAs themselves. Not why they quit, though that would be interesting. Ask them to give you advice on whether you ought to hire him. PAs are closer to their bosses than anyone; indeed if they were given a voice in selection processes, better decisions might result.
Your Advice
Numbers speak
He has hit all the right numbers � no PA will ever be able to do that for you. Numbers speak for themselves; if he was truly an unreasonable bully then he wouldn't have been able to achieve what he has. The problem here lies with the agency in charge of supplying the staff in the first place � personality fit and a nice cup of tea should be top of the list. Board-level PA, female
Look elsewhere
You bet it does. To lose one PA is unfortunate, to lose 12 is beyond carelessness. This man must be insufferable. Find another. Director, male
He's the man
Hire him. He's tailor-made. That you should even ask the question suggests your company (especially its enabling board) already tolerates an abusive corporate culture masked by the occasional pious concern. Nice touch even raising the issue. Former corporate, male, 48
Tie salary to PAs
Hire him, but stipulate in his contract that for each new PA he hires each year, he loses 10 per cent of his variable income. You'll find the next PA lasts as long as he does. Retired, anon
Pick me
He needs someone adaptable, intelligent, who is able to cope with someone's challenging behaviour and who is rewarded handsomely. Can I send you my CV? PA, female
Legal time-bomb
Twelve PAs in 24 months smacks of harassment to me. If you would like to be the employer of the lucky number 13 PA who files a big lawsuit, go ahead and hire him. Director, female, 40
Hire a heavy
If Napoleon, Montgomery or Churchill had been judged on their abilities to control their temper, they would have never become leaders.
If he's good, hire him and hire an ex-Marine or ex-professional rugby player as a PA.
If he chews up a big tasty lad like that, then, well, that's what temp agencies are for. Anon, male
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