Hi Reader,

"We just can't find the right people!"

I hear this a lot from accidental leaders.

The problem isn’t the market. It’s not even the job description.

It’s you.

You’re not hiring, you’re searching for a mini-me—and it’s sabotaging your growth.

· Senior developer candidates? "Not technical enough."

· Seasoned project managers? "Won't understand our complexity."

· Experienced team leads? "Lack the domain expertise."

You’re not hiring for talent—you’re hiring for comfort.

I did the same thing in consulting. I almost passed on the best salesperson we ever hired because they didn’t “fit my mould.” They’re still there today - absolutely crushing it.

And that “nobody gets it like I do” mindset? It’s not a high standard. It’s a trust issue.

I was queen of "it’s faster if I do it myself." Until it nearly broke me.

If you’re struggling to build your dream team, ask yourself:
❌ Are you hiring for skill—or looking for a clone?
❌ Are you scaling—or just micromanaging at scale?

Hiring is leadership, not control.

Want to talk this through? I offer free chemistry calls for leaders navigating these challenges. Grab a time here.

Your wing woman,

Catherine

P.S. What’s the most ridiculous job requirement you’ve ever heard?