Post by BOB Search - THE Aerospace, Defense and Space Executive Search Firm

Hire for the role that exists today. I constantly get asked for candidates who can be the "future _____" in an organization. And I get it. I get the pull toward the candidate who can promote two levels up. Succession planning, future-proofing, getting your next leader in the building early. I understand the instinct. But here's what gets missed. You don't get a future CXO at a discount. Promoting someone from where they are today takes real time and real money. The development, the coaching, the stretch assignments, the small failures that lead to growth, the company resources behind all of it. Even when you've hired exactly the right person, that build-up is substantial. You don't get one without the other. Think about it like buying a house. I can get you a place with great bones on a great block at a discount. But turning it into the home you actually want takes significant work, time and investment. The move-in-ready house on that same block, already renovated, costs far more than your budget. There's a trade-off, and companies don't always recognize the effort required in professional development. You don't know what the future holds. You don't know exactly where the market or you company is going. Therefore, you don't know where the business will be, or what your needs will be in 3-5 years. So hire for the job in front of you. Solve the problem you have now. If that person grows into more, that's a great outcome. But if you're not willing to invest the resources required to "renovate" don't expect the results to magically appear.