I worked with Adam Nussbaum for several months in 2010. I was a part-time delivery driver at Dominos Pizza, and he was a shift leader. I was working as a delivery driver in addition to my day job as a sales manager for a software company. I have been involved in the hiring process in previous jobs; and therefore I recognize good work habits and character qualities. As a result of my experiences, I can confidently illustrate the characteristics that distinguish Adam as an employee.
Adam is a rock. I had been working at Dominos for a few months before Adam was hired, so I had the opportunity to notice his character from the start. Adam is a good, stable worker; someone who wears a smile and a good attitude. I really appreciated his peaceable, unassuming style of leadership. In my experience and observation, Adam exhibits the characteristics of contentment, deference, and endurance.
Contentment is “realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions.” When I said that Adam is a rock, I am referring to an almost imperceptible quality that one feels in his presence. It’s difficult to describe, but I would identify it as a sense of calmness that Adam carries with him, that isn’t easily shaken. Adam is not the kind of person who complains or makes a show when things get hard. He just quietly responds to the need and gets to work. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him ruffled, in all the time we worked together. Adam’s contentment is great for the people around him, in the sense that he is a force or goodwill in the workplace. His positive attitude makes him easy to work with, and easy to work for when he’s in charge.
Deference is “limiting my freedom so I do not offend the tastes of those around me.” Adam is generally kind and personable towards the people he works with, but deference is a step beyond. It is a rare characteristic that demonstrates a real respect and concern for others. A great example of deference has to do with music. There is a radio at work, and at times during the shift it’s appropriate to play music. I always enjoyed it when Adam was the D.J. for the night. The playlists he selected demonstrated sensitivity to those who might be listening. When he was in charge of the radio, you always knew that the music would be something your young children could listen to. I have a low tolerance for vulgarity and profanity in music, so I really appreciated this demonstration of character. I’m sure I was not the only one. You can also hear deference at work in the way Adam talks. He keeps his conversation professional, avoiding words and topics that could be offensive in a work environment. This also contributes to peace and harmony in the workplace, while setting an example of professionalism.
Endurance is “the inward strength to withstand stress and do my best.” This is a great characteristic for a worker in any environment. Adam demonstrates endurance hand-in-hand with the contentment I described above. For example, there were a few moments I can remember when we were in the midst of a rush, and I received a phone call from a customer requesting to speak to a manager. Adam’s response in these kinds of situations was telling. In all the cases I remember, Adam strolled resolutely to the phone, maintained a pleasant tone, and gave the person on the other end of the line his undivided attention and concern. In a situation where it would be understandable to be slightly irritated, or a little short, Adam demonstrated the complete opposite. I watched him resolve any complaints with warmth and patience, withstanding the effects of a stressful environment like a champion. This shows Adam to be the kind of person who can be entrusted with a responsibility or burden, and who can be counted upon to bear it without complaint.
I wish Adam the best, wherever his career may take him. My experiences with him were uniformly positive. Adam is a man I would recommend for a position requiring his particular skills and disposition, based on my experiences with him.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely; Johnny Adam Levy
*To see contact info, download the PDF (Below)
My definitions for character traits come from the Character First curriculum of the “49 Character Qualities.”
No comments:
Post a Comment