We spend enormous energy evaluating what leaders have accomplished. We spend far less time examining what happens to the people around them. Yet how a leader handles pressure, power, conflict and accountability may tell us just as much about the organization they will ultimately build.

An interview scorecard lifts predictive validity from .38 to .51 (Schmidt & Hunter). Build one for a VP or C-suite hire in a week, with a sample CFO scorecard.

Executive hiring mistakes push 40 to 50 percent of new leaders to fail within 18 months. A 26-year recruiter breaks down all 7 errors and the fixes for 2026.