Too many of the unemployed do not have the skills that employers now say they need. What happen to “on the job training”? To internships? Apprenticeships? How can employers bring on board motivated workers who need some additional training to meet the demands of the jobs for which they are hired?

Today too many employers, out-of –work folks take a narrow view of the strengths that they bring to the world of work. Skills can be learned when someone is excited about the tasks involved and wants to be effective in the new job. Someone who already has the skills and really dislikes the activities of the job will be less effective than another whose strengths lie internally in really being passionate about the job and the work involved.

CNN Money regularly publishes the list of the best companies to work for in the country such as Zappos, REI, Google, and Wegmans Food Markets.

Okay, can you assume that you are automatically going to be satisfied and fulfilled with your work–that the people around you and your boss will support who you are?

What if your boss at one of these revered companies is/was — in your opinion — a real jerk, a numbskull, someone from the shallow end of the gene pool.

We believe that it’s your boss, your immediate supervisor, who has a more impactful relationship on you and your sense of well being than any survey results.

So when interviewing for a job it is equally important to pay close attention to the person you will be working for than it is to the marquee over the company entrance.

As  consultants, we are brought into organizations to help the CEO’s reshape the culture, the organization and other aspects. In reading Weatherford’s Ghengis Khan, I was constantly astonished  and amazed by some of his leadership characteristics. We are so quick to judge based on stories passed down.

1. He organized and promoted based on ability, not clan status or royalty;

2. Pre-planned all military campaigns leaving little to chance and learning from each encounter (from the people whom he conquered);

3. Franciscan artists borrowed themes and techniques brought thru commence by the Mongols. At the monastery  at Assisi you can see subjects depicted in events from the life of Christ as Mongols with Mongol dress, and textiles unknown at that time in Europe;

3. Incorporated (not as slaves) the conquered civilizations into the Mongol Empire, taking the best ideas and people to work in the newer, larger Empire;

4. Set up a communication system, a postal system and also got into printing;

5. Established a ranking system within the military that guaranteed loyalty, fair share distribution, again based on merit, and guaranteed care for military families whether wounded or dead;

6. Women also held positions of prominence  throughout the Empire;

7. He allowed all religions a place in the Empire;

This is not to say that he did not kill enemies and pillage other groups. However, he never made  sport out of killing and torture as was done in Europe.

How would you judge his leadership style? Weatherford’s book is certainly well written and enlightening–a worthwhile read.