Hire for honesty and multiply your impact

In 2003, Warren Buffett flew to Little Rock for a single two-hour meeting, then shook hands on a $23 billion acquisition—no reams of due diligence required. He trusted Sam Walton’s word and a well-built structure more than pages of contracts.

This same principle applies to every hire. When you build trust first—by vetting integrity, intelligence, and initiative—you gain a team member who requires minimal oversight. They own their work, raise their hand when problems arise, and fuel progress without micromanagement.

In one entrepreneurial firm, a single high-integrity controller replaced a series of short-term hires riddled with errors. The new hire’s consistent honesty and follow-through meant fewer audits, fewer surprises, and a culture of accountability that spread across projects.

The lesson: hire character before skill. In return, you’ll enjoy smoother team dynamics, faster decision-making, and a self-sustaining engine of trust that magnifies every ounce of effort.

Begin every interview by identifying three key integrity traits your team can’t live without. Pose questions that demand concrete examples—“Describe a time you admitted a mistake”—and listen for genuine self-awareness. Before you make an offer, call references and ask about one ethical challenge they faced. If any hesitation arises, trust your gut. Remember, one bulletproof hire transforms your entire operation.