“Two Beers and a Puppy: A Fun (Yet Insightful) Guide to Compatibility”

Picture this: a cozy pub, a cold beer in hand, and a potential colleague or mentee across the table. How can you gauge if this person is a good fit for your team or a reliable partner? Enter the “Two Beers and a Puppy” test, a quirky yet insightful way to assess compatibility, straight out of Ross McCammon’s 2015 book, Works Well with Others: An Outsider’s Guide to Shaking Hands, Shutting Up, Handling Jerks, and Other Crucial Skills in Business That No One Ever Teaches You.

The Essence of the Test

At its core, the test boils down to two simple questions:

1. Would you (gladly and willingly) have two beers with this person?
2. Would you allow this person to look after your puppy over a weekend?

These questions tap into two critical aspects: personal chemistry and trustworthiness. Here’s how the answers break down:

• No and No: Avoid these people.
• Yes and No: Cautiously trust them.
• No and Yes: They’re dependable but not fun.
• Yes and Yes: They’re wonderful and reliable.

Why It Works

The “two beers” scenario is a proxy for any casual, social interaction. If you can’t imagine enjoying their company, that’s a red flag. Trusting someone with your puppy signifies a deeper level of trust and responsibility. If you can’t trust them with something so important, it raises questions about their reliability and integrity.

Beyond the Test

The test reminds us to look beyond resumes and qualifications to the human element. It encourages us to strive for deeper connections and mutual respect, highlighting the importance of considering personal qualities. The aspiration is to be a “6 beers and a baby” kind of person, which means being someone who’s both enjoyable and deeply trustworthy, combining fun and reliability.

Conclusion

Next time you’re assessing someone, give the “Two Beers and a Puppy” test a try. It might just give you the clarity you need. Whether you’re striving to find or become a “6 beers and a baby” kind of person, it’s all about fostering relationships built on enjoyment, trust, and mutual respect. Cheers to meaningful connections and trusting relationships, beers optional, puppies always welcome.