How to Start a Best-in-Class Executive Search (Part 1)

Episode notes

Before outreach, interviews, or scorecards, every effective hiring process begins with a clear definition of the role. In this episode of Mission One: The Executive Edge, hosts Dan Hampton and Gerard Miles open a new mini-series on world-class hiring by breaking down the first step leaders often rush: framing the role with precision and aligning every stakeholder around it. They explore how to identify the real business problem the hire must solve, whether the role is replacing someone or creating something new, and why this distinction reshapes expectations, scope, and candidate fit. Drawing from their experience guiding senior searches across sectors, they show how to test assumptions early, through stakeholder conversations and “archetype” candidates, before committing to a full search. Dan and Gerard also outline how to build a focused scorecard that measures what truly matters in the next 12–24 months rather than a four-year wish list. They explain how disciplined criteria help hiring managers compare very different candidates, make trade-offs visible, and avoid the common trap of chasing a “perfect” profile that does not exist.