Growing up my dad and I used to work on projects around the house. One saying he used to tell me all the time was, “measure twice, cut once.” This saying has stuck with me throughout my life and surprisingly it applies to a lot of different scenarios, including the hiring process.

There are few managerial functions as critical as finding the right hire, and yet too often the process becomes robotic and rushed, as we fall into the grooves of routine. Rushing the process inevitably results in mistakes, and mistakes in hiring come at great cost not only in training but in cultural damage when a misplaced hire erodes the morale of your teams.

Here are a few benefits that come from taking your time during the hiring process:

• Improved Quality of Hire – A deliberate pace allows a more structured and thorough evaluation process, ensuring you will hire a candidate that is the right fit for the role as well as for your company’s culture.
• Alignment with All Hiring Goals – When an appropriate amount of time is allotted to hiring, your team will have an opportunity to complete all critical assessments. These may include things such as giving multiple team members a chance to speak with the candidate and following up on every referral. Only a methodical, thoughtful assessment can ensure a proper alignment between the candidate and the job requirements.
• Lower Turnover – The more involved your team is in the process, the more likely it will be that no red flags are missed.
• Culture Fit – Taking your time enables you to assess if a candidate’s values and work style align with the company’s culture.
• Long-Term Results – When you take your time with the process, you get talent that is aligned to your mission, not just the job. Long term performance, not just short-term polish.

So if you want to build teams that actually gel, rather than just filling headcount, remember the saying, “measure twice, cut once.” It may take a little longer to do things right, but the time you spend in the short-term will save you time and disruption in the long-term.