NEW STAFF STRONG POINTS OF NOTE WHEN HIRING

Hiring new staff members is an exciting adventure, but also wrought with risks and dangers. In spite of the old adage of “hire slow, fire fast,” it’s still far more difficult to add to your team than to take away. So here are some criteria to help you make wise decisions. Character Always look for character and integrity first. Talent, expertise, and charisma are worthless if there is a fatal character flaw. An entire firm can come tumbling down without a team that represents character. Convictions Look for staff members whose objectives are close to that of the organization. Doctrine is a high priority. Competence We can argue about experience versus education all day, but really, we’re looking for staff members who demonstrate an appropriate mixture of the two to equip them for the position. And talent and giftedness have to be considered as well. Trying to do someone a favor by hiring them to do something they aren’t equipped for isn’t a favor at all, it’s a hardship on the staff member and the organization. Commitment I look for leaders who are going to be committed to the organization, to the people, and to me as their leader. I’m not searching for blind loyalty or “yes men,” Chemistry This one gets overlooked, but it’s also highly important for the long haul. Everybody needs to get along. I’m looking for someone who is not only qualified, but whose personality is a good fit for the team, especially with me. If the chemistry is off, problems are inevitable, and too many organizations have died from a staff infection. Hiring isn’t necessarily fun. We should hire slowly and fire quickly and handle every new hiring opportunity with prayer, wisdom, and God’s leadership.