Discipline and Character in Hiring

Jim Collins is quoted in Shane Parrish’s book, Clear Thinking:

“There is no effectiveness without discipline,

and there is no discipline without character.”

Every leader knows this is true.

But how many apply it to hiring?

Collins isn't just describing personal virtues.  He's defining the standard every leader must meet when building a team.

Hiring is where discipline and character are tested most.

Discipline in hiring looks like this:

• A structured, consistent process for every role - not casual interviews and gut decisions.

• Hiring criteria defined before the search begins, not shaped by whoever impresses you in the moment.

• Every person involved in hiring decisions trained to expertly fulfill their responsibilities to attract, assess, or add amazing players to your team.

• A commitment to keep searching until the right person is found - not settling because the process feels like it is taking too long.

• Reviewing every hiring outcome - good and bad - to continuously improve your system and hiring skills.

Character in hiring looks like this:

• Acknowledging honestly when your hiring system is producing bad results instead of blaming candidates or the market.  And owning your part of the problem.

• Acting on what you know - fixing the system, coaching your team, investing in improvement.

• Treating every candidate with respect, regardless of their behavior or performance.

• Value every candidate’s time.  Recognize the risk they are taking spending time with you and betting your team is offering their best career move.

• Holding yourself to the same hiring standard you expect from everyone else on your team.

Here are the two tests every leader should apply:

DISCIPLINE TEST

Does your hiring system consistently attract, assess, and add people who meet or exceed your expectations?

Do not guess.  Check the data for the past year or another timeframe.  Add up the employee turnover, performance numbers per team member (past and present), and hiring costs - all of them.  Use our free Bad Hire Calculator.

If the results do not meet your expectations, then your system and your team's skills need work.

CHARACTER TEST

Do you know your hiring system could be better - and people involved in attracting, assessing, and adding new hires are making mistakes?

Then, what are you doing about it?

If you know there are problems and aren't acting, that's not primarily a process problem or something you can blame on others.  I kindly suggest it's a leadership problem with you.

Your lack of action is hurting others too.  Not just your team, clients, and bottom line.

Bad hiring decisions hurt the people you hire.  You took them away from other opportunities.  You wasted months of their career.  You caused them unnecessary emotional distress.

Great leaders care almost as much about the players trying out for their team, as they do for their existing team members.

The good news:  Both discipline and character can be developed.  That's exactly what we do at Hire the Best.

Drop a comment below or email info@hirethebest.co to schedule your free consultation.

Isn't it worth 15 minutes to stop making bad, costly hiring decisions?  To stop hurting your team, and others who sincerely want to join your team?

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