Episode 16

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Published on:

4th Feb 2026

Masterclass on Hiring (1/3): Mindset & Preparation

Hiring is the most expensive gamble you make as a leader - and when you get it right, it makes everything else easier.

The problem is that research shows that 46% of new hires fail within 18 months. The cost isn't just the salary—it's the lost momentum, the cultural damage, and the months it takes to fix the mistake.


In this special 3-part Masterclass Series, I am joined by Michael Bailey—an expert in scaling SMEs and building high-performance cultures—to break down the "5 Steps to Hiring Right."


In Part 1, we tear down the traditional "Post and Pray" method and teach you the Preparation Phase. You will learn why "Job Descriptions" are useless and how to replace them with a "Scorecard" that defines exactly what winning looks like.


In this episode, you will learn:

-The 50/50 Gamble: Why traditional hiring has a failure rate of nearly 50% and how to stack the odds in your favor .

-Defining "A-Players": Why you don't just want a superstar (who might be a jerk)—you want the right superstar who aligns with your values .

-The Scorecard Method: The exact framework to define the Mission, Outcomes, and Competencies for a role before you ever speak to a candidate .

-The Hiring Hierarchy: Why you must prioritize Values > Wills > Skills (in that order).

-The Speed Trap: How to map your timeline so you don't lose top talent to faster competitors.


Resources:

-Get the Templates: Download the Job Scorecard and Interview Templates mentioned in this episode inside the Growth Leaders Collective at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC


Michael Bailey is a Growth Consultant with over 20 years of experience helping SMEs scale successfully by building strong people strategies. As former CFO and People Director at MOMs Organic Market, he helped scale the business from 3 to 7 stores while maintaining its purpose-driven culture. He's also worked with Urban Leisure Group (named one of the Guardian's Best Places to Work in London) and The Better Food Company, where he prioritized people alongside profits.

Contact Michael:

  1. Website: www.elzeard.co.uk
  2. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bailey3
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About the Podcast

Leadership Mindset 2.0
Transform From Tactical Doer to Strategic Leader: The Psychology of Scaling for Executives & Entrepreneurs
Leadership Mindset 2.0 is the definitive playbook for executives and entrepreneurs ready to break free from the "Doer Trap" and scale their business using psychology and strategy.

Host R. Michael Anderson has scaled multiple software companies to the Inc. 5000 list and was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Now, as a 2x Executive Coach of the Year, he uses that experience to help high-performers transform from Tactical Operators into Strategic Leaders.

In this podcast, Michael blends cutting-edge neuroscience, emotional intelligence (EQ), and battle-tested business strategy to help you overcome burnout, imposter syndrome, and the "Leadership Incompetence Trap" so you can lead with clarity and confidence.

Two New Episodes Every Week which include a mix of:
• Strategy: Neuroscience frameworks & leadership tactics to start your week.
• Mentorship: Live Q&A and specific answers to your leadership challenges.
• Coaching: A fly-on-the-wall look at real, unscripted executive coaching sessions as Michael helps leaders break through their blind spots live.
• Masterclasses: Listen in as Michael and guests teach valuable leadership and management skills to a real-life audience.

Topics include: The Psychology of Scaling, Burnout Prevention, Strategic Planning, Executive Coaching, and Emotional Intelligence.

About your host

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R. Michael Anderson

R. Michael Anderson, MBA, MA has a striking combination that creates truly impactful transformation in leaders – he has the real-life business success of founding, scaling and exiting three software companies, plus the educational background of a Masters Degree in Psychology.



This combination gives him the unique ability to connect to other leaders as a peer, then teaches evidence-based leadership skills that genuinely drive behaviour and performance.