By Don Georgevich

Most businesses are losing money without knowing it. Let’s face it: bad hires are expensive. But just how expensive?

A report from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that a bad hire can cost a company up to 30% of that employee’s first-year earnings.

And we’re not just talking about the immediate financial cost—it’s also about lost time, lowered productivity, and the negative impact on team morale.

If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, those costs can be especially devastating. And yet, most businesses keep making the same mistakes over and over.They rely on intuition, gut feelings, or hire based on who seems good enough at the time.

But what if I told you there’s a better way—one that not only reduces your hiring risks but also maximizes the value you get from each new hire?

Hiring Best Practices

Today, I’m going to introduce you to the concept of Scientific Hiring and show you how a structured, data-driven approach can transform your business. It’s the secret weapon to ensure you’re not just filling seats, but hiring A-Players who will actively drive your company’s success.

Here’s where most business owners fail: they think the hard part is over once a candidate has been hired. But that’s just the beginning.

Without a proper hiring system, you risk bringing in people who don’t fit your culture, aren’t up to the task, or worse—bring down the overall morale and productivity of your team.

Here’s the real kicker: most companies think their hiring process is fine, when in fact, it’s often flawed. Research by McKinsey shows that most businesses underestimate the power of using a structured, data-driven hiring process.

And without that structure, they're not only losing money—they're missing out on huge gains in productivity by not bringing in the right people from the start.

Bad Hires

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) points out that businesses without a solid hiring system spend more time and energy dealing with high turnover and low productivity.

And that's because just one bad hire can cost you a lot more than just their salary.

But hiring A-Players can totally transform your business. So it’s worth taking time to get your hiring process right.

A-Players vs. C-Players: What’s the Difference?

What separates a business that’s simply surviving from one that’s thriving?

The answer is simple: A-Players. An A-Player is someone who not only meets but exceeds expectations.They take ownership of their work, solve problems creatively, and inspire those around them.

In many businesses, the 80/20 rule holds true: A-Players—just 20% of your team—are responsible for producing 80% of your company’s output. These exceptional employees don’t just meet expectations; they consistently exceed them, taking ownership of their work, solving challenges creatively, and inspiring those around them to step up.

On the flip side, C-Players are more-likely to drain your team’s energy, and create more problems than they solve.

The harsh truth is that hiring even just one C-Player can hold your entire business back. So, how do you avoid that mistake?

When you have a solid hiring system in place, it’s not just about avoiding the wrong hires—it’s about maximizing the value of every A-Player you bring on board.

Here’s how a smart hiring process can give you a significant return on your investment:

A Case Study in Smart Hiring

Let me share a quick story with you.

A client of mine, a small business owner in the SaaS sector, was struggling to keep her team stable. Every few months, she faced the same issue: high turnover, frustrated employees, and a drop in morale. Employees were leaving after just six months, and she was spending more time rehiring than actually growing her business. Productivity was at an all-time low, and it felt like she was in a constant uphill battle.

After working together to implement the Scientific Hiring Method, everything changed.

We focused on hiring A-Players—people who didn’t just tick boxes on a job description but brought passion, creativity, and drive to the table. These were the people who could truly push her business forward. Within three months, she saw remarkable shifts: productivity shot up by 40%, turnover dropped, and the entire team felt more aligned with the company’s vision and goals. What once seemed impossible was now her new standard.

That’s the power of a smart hiring system—a shift that not only fills seats but builds a team with purpose, talent, and loyalty.

Consider this...

When you're ready, there are 3-ways I can help you

1.Scientific Hiring Essentials: This free email series introduces you to the core concepts of hiring top talent. Perfect for any business looking to build a high-performing team without the guesswork. You’ll learn foundational strategies to make smart hiring decisions and avoid common hiring mistakes.

2. The Seven Master Steps to Hiring A-Players:  If you hire 5 or more people a year, this could be the most valuable book you’ll ever read. Inside, you’ll find proven strategies to make smart hiring decisions so you only hire the best people onto your team.

3. The Scientific Hiring Academy:  This is my flagship course on how to hire A-Players. Most businesses struggle with hiring superstars. This course is designed to transform your hiring process and enable you to consistently attract and retain top talent. In this program, I’ll guide you through actionable, proven techniques to simplify and streamline your hiring process so you walk away with the skills needed to hire the best people for your business.

Interested in improving your hiring? Click the button below to talk with me.

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