Hiring is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — decisions a leader makes.

In this episode of the People Development Podcast, we sit down with Mitch McDermott, founder of Talent Ascension Group, to explore how a human-centered approach to hiring transforms the search, team building, and long-term organizational success.

Rather than focusing only on resumes and job descriptions, Mitch shares how leaders can uncover what truly matters: alignment between a person’s goals, values, and the role they’re stepping into. When leaders create space for real conversation, they move beyond rehearsed answers and begin to see the signals that actually predict success.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why interviews fail when they become scripted performances
• How asking candidates about themselves reveals whether they want a job or a career
• The importance of aligning personal goals with role expectations early in the process
• How unexpected, unscripted questions uncover authentic responses
• Why the interviewer sets the tone for honesty and transparency
• The risk of premature promotions and internal bottlenecks that stall growth
• Why sometimes the best leadership decision is giving ideas time to breathe
  
  

Mitch also breaks down the three variables of hiring every leader must balance:

Quality • Experience • Budget

You can’t maximize all three at the same time. Great leaders succeed by making intentional trade-offs.

At Living Water Consulting, we believe businesses grow strongest when leaders build systems, culture, and teams that thrive with them—but don’t depend on them.

Guest: Mitch McDermott

• Founder, Talent Ascension Group
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mitch-mcdermott
• Website: talentascension.com

Discover more leadership insights and resources at www.consultlivingwater.com, and explore how we help organizations strengthen leadership, strategy, and systems to build self-sustaining businesses.