The most expensive mistakes a CEO makes are hiring mistakes. As Geoff Smart and Randy Street argue in Who, your number-one problem isn't "what," it's "who." Their A Method is a simple, repeatable way to consistently hire "A Players": people with a 90%+ chance of achieving outcomes only the top 10% of candidates could.
The Method in Brief
It comes down to four steps.
- Scorecard: define the role precisely (its mission, 3-8 measurable outcomes, and the competencies, including your culture's) before you talk to anyone.
- Source: build a steady flow of A Players by relentlessly asking everyone, "Who are the most talented people you know?"
- Select: run four interviews that build on each other (a screening call, a chronological "Who" interview, focused interviews on specific outcomes, and reference calls), then decide with the Skill-Will Bullseye.
- Sell: close the A Player using the Five F's (Fit, Family, Freedom, Fortune, Fun), because you're not done until they start.
Go Deeper
- Read our book report on Who (PDF) for the full method.
- Use the templates: the Critical Competencies for A Players spreadsheet (with a sample scorecard) and our Position Description Templates.
- Read the book: Who: The A Method for Hiring, by Geoff Smart and Randy Street.
Hiring well is also what we do; every executive in our vetted network is screened against exactly this bar. If you'd rather skip the cold search for a senior role, Talk to our Team to book a free 30-minute Scalability Audit, or read how we vet senior and fractional leaders.
The A Method, the Scorecard, and the Five F's are from Who by Geoff Smart and Randy Street (ghSMART).