A Mantra That Bugs Me

Ever heard a CEO say they “hire slow and fire fast”?
 
That approach has merit, and I generally agree with Greg McKeown’s popular HBR article on the phrase. But I also think that giving yourself a pass to “hire slow” can work against your company.
 
For example, I recently heard an executive say they couldn’t meet with a job candidate because they were too busy this week. That kind of statement sets off alarm bells for me. I cannot think of many things in a leader’s day that should take precedence over making timely offers to great candidates. This was not the judicious, thoughtful hiring McKeown argues for. It was simple de-prioritization of the leader's responsibility to recruit and hire.
 
Consider the fallout when you let yourself “hire slow”:

• Missed talent opportunities. Top talent does not stay available for long. To get the people your competitors are vying for, you need to strike while the iron is hot. If an A-player with another offer is waiting weeks to hear back from you, you’re p…