Hiring the right person is one of the most important decisions you will make, yet many of us are still using old government style hiring processes that focus too heavily on technical skills and past experience. While those matter, they only tell part of the story. A truly successful hire is someone whose competencies, behaviors, and values align with the work your agency does and the way your team operates everyday. Skills can be learned; alignment, curiosity, resilience, flexibility and the ability to collaborate are traits that shape how someone shows up. When leaders hire with competencies in mind—communication, problem-solving, adaptability, accountability, empathy — they’re building teams that can grow with the organization, not just perform tasks.
Alignment with your mission is equally essential. When a candidate connects deeply with your purpose and understands why the work matters, they bring energy, commitment, purpose, and a desire to contribute beyond the day to day work. That alignment fuels long-term engagement, reduces turnover, and strengthens your culture. In contrast, hiring candidates who check every skill box but lack a meaningful connection to the mission often results in mismatches in motivation and behavior. The best hires are people who see themselves in your mission and want to help move it forward.
Shifting from a skills-based mindset to a competency- and mission-centered hiring approach creates more resilient teams. Teams that positively impact your customers and strengthen your community. When hiring leaders emphasize who a person is—how they think, how they act, how they connect to the work —alongside what they can do, they build stronger workplaces capable of meeting today's challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
If you're ready modernize your hiring to attract the RIGHT people to your agency, let's chat!
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