Hire Patiently, Not Desperately
Recently, while working with a client, we both came to the same realization: one of the most expensive hiring mistakes organizations make is allowing urgency to outweigh good judgment.
Every employer eventually faces the pressure of filling an important position. The work keeps coming, the team feels the strain, and the temptation is to make the process move faster than it should.
That’s exactly when leaders need to slow down.
Hiring isn’t simply about finding someone who can do the job. It’s about finding someone who is both qualified and genuinely committed to becoming part of your organization. Those are two very different things.
One of the most valuable leadership qualities during the hiring process is forbearance—the ability to patiently restrain yourself from making a decision simply because you need relief. A few strong interviews can create the illusion that you’ve found the right person. Don’t mistake enthusiasm or confidence for commitment.
Instead, ask yourself one important question:
Am I more desperate to fill this position than the candidate is to earn it?
If the answer is yes—or even maybe—pause. Give yourself the space to learn more.
Ask thoughtful questions that reveal motivation, values, and long-term commitment.
Consider questions like:
- What have you enjoyed most about your current position?
- What was the work environment like?
- What makes it difficult to leave?
- What’s become too challenging?
- How have those challenges affected you?
- Do you think those issues could be resolved?
- What would it take for you to stay where you are?
- What do you need to feel fulfilled and able to do your best work?
- How do you hope to make a meaningful contribution in your next role?
- What attracted you to our organization?
These conversations often tell you far more than technical qualifications ever will.
Skills can be developed. Commitment, character, and genuine desire are much harder to teach.
I know you’re committed to finding the right person. Before making an offer, make sure you know—and feel—that they’re equally committed to becoming the right person for your organization.
Patient hiring rarely feels fast, but it almost always proves to be the wiser investment.
