Why Smart Leaders Make Bad Hiring Decisions

You are a smart leader. You know your industry. You know your team. So why do you sometimes hire the wrong person?

It is not because you are bad at your job. It is because of how the human brain works.

Psychologists call it "Unconscious Bias." When we interview someone, our brain takes shortcuts. These shortcuts help us decide quickly, but they often lead us to the wrong answer.

Here are the two biggest "Brain Traps" that cause hiring mistakes in the maritime industry:

1. The "Just Like Me" Trap (Affinity Bias)

We naturally like people who are similar to us. If a candidate went to the same maritime academy as you, or worked for the same company, or even supports the same sports team, your brain instantly likes them.

You think: "We have a connection. They will fit in well."

The Problem: You end up hiring a clone of yourself. But you don't need another "You." You need someone with the skills you are missing. Great teams need diversity of thought, not just people who agree with the boss.

2. The "Halo Effect"

This happens when a candidate is really good at one thing, so you assume they are good at everything.

Example: You interview a Technical Superintendent. He knows the engine room perfectly. He answers every technical question right. Your brain says: "He is a genius. He will be a great manager."

The Problem: Technical skill is not the same as leadership skill. You hire him, and he fails—not because he isn't smart, but because he cannot manage people. The "Halo" of his technical skill blinded you to his other weaknesses.

How to Beat Your Own Brain

You cannot turn off these biases. They are part of being human. But you can use tools to double-check your gut feeling.

This is why Tetrus Recruiting uses data. We use Psychometric Testing to measure a candidate objectively.

• The data does not care which university they went to.

• The data is not impressed by a confident handshake.

• The data only looks at Behavior and Potential.

The Verdict

Don't let your brain trick you. Use data to see the truth.