Improving The Odds Of A Great Hire

February 4, 2025

Hiring and developing great leaders is about finding the right mix of skills, personality, and potential. The best approach blends science (using the right assessments and tools) with strategy (understanding your company’s unique needs today and in the future).

Using the Right Tools—The Science Side

There are a lot of hiring tools out there, from personality tests to leadership assessments. But just having tools isn’t enough—they have to be used the right way. If they’re misapplied, companies can end up making bad hiring decisions that hurt in the long run.

The key is knowing which tools will actually help predict success and making sure they’re part of a thoughtful selection process.

Thinking Beyond Today—The Strategy Side

Hiring is about planning for what’s ahead. Many companies focus only on what they need today, but the best teams also think about:

  • What skills will be important in 3-5 years?
  • How will the company and industry evolve?
  • What leadership gaps could open up down the road?

By taking a step back and looking at both immediate and future needs, businesses can make smarter hiring and development choices.

Two Ways to Build a Strong Leadership Team

A great leadership team doesn’t just happen—it takes planning. Whether you bring in new talent or develop the people you already have, the key is making sure your team is ready for both today and the future.

  1. Hire for the future. Bring in leaders who already have the skills you know will be essential in the years ahead. This ensures your team is ready for what’s coming.
  2. Develop from within. Look at your current team and invest in training to build the skills they’ll need. Instead of hiring externally, you prepare your people for bigger roles.

There’s no perfect formula, but a mix of smart hiring and growing your existing team can set your company up for long-term success.

Making Leadership Decisions That Last

The best approach is a mix of both—hiring smart and developing talent. At LWF, we help companies take the guesswork out of leadership selection and development.

Whether you need to bring in new leaders or strengthen the team you already have, we’ll help you build a leadership strategy that works for today and the future.

Want to learn more? Reach out to our experts at LWF today.