'Watch them work' | Cisco CEO criticizes internal promotion interview processes

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins has criticized the way companies interview internal candidates for promotions, arguing that observing performance on the job provides more meaningful insight than formal interview sessions.

Speaking in a recent interview on TBPN, Robbins argued that traditional promotion interviews can add little value when evaluating existing employees.

"I think when we have two or three internal candidates for a promotion, the whole interview process is stupid," Robbins explained. "What are we going to learn about them when we sit down in a room for 30 minutes and ask them questions when we can watch them work?"

Robbins said performance visibility across day to day responsibilities should be central to promotion decisions inside organizations.

This frustration, Robbins said, translates into his belief that "every day you're working is an interview for your next job."

Having joined Cisco in 1997 as an account manager, Robbins noted that professional growth is not only about personal ambition but also about supporting colleagues.

"You also have to have people who care about making sure their peers are successful as well," he continued. "The person who is solely focused on getting to the top as an individual, it's probably not going to happen for them."

Peer credibility and leadership readiness

Robbins said peer perception can serve as a useful indicator of promotion readiness inside organizations. He described a simple test employees can use to evaluate whether they are prepared for advancement.

"There's a simple exercise," Robbins said, "that people should use when envisioning their promotion."

"If your peer group would look at your promotion announcement and go, 'that makes perfect sense,' then you've done your job, right?" he explained. "And if you can't look in the mirror and say, 'OK, those people, would they be happy, would they believe it's the right decision?' And if they wouldn't, you're probably not quite where you ought to be."

EQ and leadership perspective

Robbins also highlighted emotional intelligence as a defining leadership capability, particularly for senior executives in the technology sector.

When it comes to those gunning for the C-Suite, or maybe even his job, Robbins said you "can't underestimate" the value of EQ.

"The people who are wildly successful have this really incredible combination - in our industry -  understand the technology, have high EQ, and really care about the mission of the team," he suggested.

Reflecting on leadership pressures, Robbins said maintaining perspective helps him manage difficult days.

"Look, I've gone home where I've had a really bad day, and I look at my wife, and say, 'You want to hear the good news? I wasn't diagnosed with cancer today,'" he remarked. "And somebody was, and I wasn't. So if my worst day, if I'm not being diagnosed with cancer or some sort of terminal illness, tomorrow I'll get up and fight another fight. You just gotta have perspective."