In this episode of the Talent Sherpa Podcast, Jackson Lynch shares a candid lesson from the toughest hire of his career—the candidate who wasn’t lying to him, but to themselves. Despite thorough vetting, trusted assessments, and careful processes, this hire still failed spectacularly.

Jackson explores why self-deception is the hardest red flag to detect, how over-optimizing around a single executive relationship can blind you to broader leadership gaps, and why flawless assessment results can sometimes hide troubling truths.

With a memorable real-world example (real story, not his real name), Jackson reminds us that great hiring isn’t about eliminating risk—it’s about trusting your instincts when something just doesn’t feel right.

Listen in to protect your next hire from becoming your next headache.