From Excitement to Regret: The Real Cost of Rushing a Hire

The Purposeful CEO with Emma Campbell

In this episode, Emma Campbell explores one of the most important yet underestimated parts of building a strong, sustainable business: hiring well. She shares why the classic advice to “hire slow, fire fast” can save you from costly mistakes and how most business owners—herself included—learn this lesson the hard way.

Emma walks through common hiring pitfalls, like rushing the process because someone “feels like a good fit” or relying too heavily on one interview to make a decision. She dives into the real, hidden costs of a bad hire, including lost productivity, impact on team morale, and damage to customer relationships or brand reputation.

Drawing on her experience in executive recruitment and coaching, Emma offers a mindset shift and step-by-step strategies for hiring the right person the first time. She explains why hiring should be a balance between trusting your intuition and collecting the right data, and shares practical ways to structure a hiring process that includes role clarity, values alignment, interview strategies, trial projects, and more.

Emma also touches on the dynamics of hiring friends, when it works well and when it doesn’t, and what to do to protect both your business and personal relationships. She invites listeners to shift from a casual, feel-good approach to a values-led, strategic one that ensures the person you bring into your business is truly aligned with your vision, goals, and team culture.

You’ll also hear Emma’s personal stories, including hiring mistakes from her own business, and how being clear on what your business actually needs—not just who you click with—leads to smarter hiring decisions.

Whether you’re preparing to hire for the first time or want to refine your approach, this episode gives you the tools and awareness to approach hiring with confidence and care.

To request a copy of Emma’s one-page high-level hiring strategy or any of the resources mentioned in this episode, send her a DM on Instagram or email her at [email protected].

Follow Emma Campbell:

Instagram: @emma_lou_campbell

LinkedIn: Emma Campbell

Website: www.emmacampbell.com.au