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:

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

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.