Episode 19

full
Published on:

11th Feb 2026

Masterclass on Hiring (2/3): Sourcing & Interviewing

"Past performance is the best predictor of future performance."

Most interviews are flawed because they rely on hypothetical questions ("What would you do if...?"). A skilled candidate can fake a hypothetical answer. They cannot fake a chronological track record.


In Part 2 of our Hiring Masterclass, Michael Bailey and I move from preparation to execution. We tackle the two hardest parts of the funnel: finding A-Players who aren't looking for jobs, and conducting an interview that acts as a "truth serum."


In this episode, you will learn:

-The Virtual Bench: Why you must constantly recruit at trade shows and dinners before you have an opening, so you never start from scratch .

-The "Entrepreneurial CPA" Strategy: How Michael wrote a job ad so unique it was featured in the business book Scaling Up, and how you can use "low hurdles" to filter out B-Players immediately .

-The Phone Screen: The 30-minute filter that saves you hours of wasted interview time.

-The "Threat of Reference Check" (TORC): A psychological tactic used early in the interview that compels candidates to tell you the unvarnished truth about their weaknesses .

-The Chronological Interview: The deep-dive format (1.5 to 3 hours) where you walk through their last 5 jobs in order. We explain why candidates let their guard down after minute 40 and give you full candour.


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.