The Only Four Questions You’ll Ever Need: Hiring & Leading with Wisdom

The Wake Up Eager Workforce Podcast

Episode Overview:

In this episode of the Wake Up Eager Workforce Podcast, host Suzie Price sits down with executive consultant and author Allan DeNiro to challenge everything you thought you knew about hiring. Together, they explore a radically simple—but deeply human—approach to finding the right people.

Allan shares his "Only Four Questions" method, a powerful behavioral interviewing model that shifts focus away from resumes and rigid criteria and toward real conversation, cultural fit, and character. You’ll hear how these questions uncover a candidate’s motivations, deal breakers, and values—saving teams from costly hiring misfires and setting the stage for long-term success.

Suzie and Allan also dive into the surprising reasons most hires fail (hint: it’s not skill), the leadership lessons Allan learned from icons like Ted Turner, and why being curious, listening more, and keeping your ego in check might be the most effective leadership tools you’ll ever use.

Plus, don’t miss the Wellbeing 2.0 segment with Douglas White, who unpacks how emotional alignment and self-awareness can help leaders show up more fully—on and off the field.

Whether you’re building a team, refining your hiring process, or trying to lead with more impact and intention, this episode will inspire you to slow down, ask better questions, and lead with wisdom.

Read the transcript for Episode 132 below and discover how four intentional questions can help you hire smarter, lead stronger, and grow a Wake Up Eager workforce.

Takeaways of Episode #132 ---

• Ditch the Resume. Ask These Four Questions Instead. Allan DeNiro flips the traditional interview script with just four open-ended questions—questions that uncover who someone truly is, not just what’s printed on their resume. His radically simple approach helps leaders avoid hiring disasters by getting to the heart of a candidate’s values, motivations, and fit. The magic? Talk less. Listen more. And ask what really matters.

• Most People Fail at Work for One Reason—And It’s Not What You Think. According to Allan, 90% of job failures aren't about technical skills—they’re about poor cultural fit and low self-awareness. That’s why his method—and the TriMetrix assessments Suzie uses—zero in on who someone is, not just what they’ve done. It’s about hiring humans, not resumes.

• Your Deal Breakers Might Be the Key to Your Best Hire. One of Allan’s four questions invites candidates to reveal their “deal breakers”—those hidden non-negotiables that cause quick exits. Why? Because identifying misalignments before the offer prevents costly “train wrecks” later. It’s a game-changing mindset shift: Interviews aren’t just for vetting candidates—they're also a moment to protect culture and momentum

Episode Recap:

Suzie Price welcomes leadership consultant, author, and executive advisor Allan DeNiro to the show for a deeply insightful conversation on hiring, leadership, and the power of listening. With decades of experience helping organizations make better people decisions, Allan introduces his transformative “Only Four Questions” approach to interviewing—designed to uncover the values, motivations, and cultural fit that traditional resumes often miss.

Through practical examples and personal reflections, Allan reveals why most hiring mistakes come from ignoring fit, not skills, and how asking the right open-ended questions can prevent costly misalignments. He also shares leadership lessons from his career, including the importance of humility, having a “contrarian” in your corner, and always leading with curiosity and clarity.

Listeners will leave with fresh tools for building stronger teams—whether you’re hiring a new employee or mentoring your next leader. From deal breakers to culture protection, this episode is packed with wisdom for anyone looking to lead and hire with greater purpose.

The episode wraps with the Wellbeing 2.0 segment featuring Douglas White, who brings powerful insights on emotional resilience, leadership presence, and aligning with your excellence—reminding us that how we feel is feedback that fuels high performance.

In this episode:

[00:28:39] Suzie Price: “People want to be seen, heard, and understood—and that doesn’t happen with resumes. It happens when we take time to ask and truly listen.”

[00:43:30] Allan DeNiro: “If a person’s dealbreakers don’t line up with your company’s culture, no amount of skill can make that work long-term.”

[01:02:28] Suzie Price: “When we stop talking and really listen, we open the door to insight—not just about others, but about ourselves as leaders.”

[01:09:22] Allan DeNiro : “The best leaders I’ve met aren’t the loudest—they’re the ones asking the best questions and making others feel safe enough to answer honestly.”

[01:33:26] Douglas White: “Leadership isn't about never falling down. It’s about building the muscle to get back up and keep leading with clarity, even in chaos.”