In this episode of the TRAITS Podcast, Mike Moreau sits down with Jason Woodard to explore one of the most pressing challenges in business today: hiring the right people. Drawing from decades of experience, Jason offers hard-earned insights into how organizations can sidestep common pitfalls in the hiring process, align new hires with long-term business goals, and foster sustainable growth.

The conversation begins with Jason’s personal journey, highlighting his transition through different roles until he found the right professional fit. His story underscores the importance of aligning both skills and personality with a role—not just for immediate productivity, but for long-term success.

A recurring theme is the owner vs. non-owner perspective in companies. Jason explains how these differing viewpoints impact hiring decisions and overall team alignment. He stresses that successful hiring isn’t just about technical ability—it’s about understanding the deeper “wiring” of an individual. While certain behaviours can be adapted for short periods and specific goals, true long-term success comes from finding individuals whose natural tendencies match the role’s demands.

Jason also addresses the danger of hiring for the wrong reasons, such as being swayed by a candidate’s charm or overlooking red flags during interviews. He uses the analogy of a “new car smell” to describe how surface appeal can mask deeper performance issues. The key? Implementing a process that uncovers the candidate’s real capabilities and potential before the hire is made.

The episode offers practical strategies for future-focused hiring—bringing in people not just for the company’s current needs, but for where the business is headed. Jason’s advice includes preparing interview questions that test adaptability, communication skills, and alignment with company culture. He also shares an invaluable lesson from “form setters” that can transform how organizations evaluate talent.

Listeners will gain insight into easing employees into roles where they can thrive long-term, creating clear communication channels, and helping people discover strengths they may not even be aware of. Jason emphasizes the importance of knowing your team members better than they know themselves—and using that knowledge to shape career paths that benefit both the individual and the organization.

This episode is a must-listen for business leaders, HR professionals, and anyone responsible for building teams. Whether you’re battling high turnover, struggling to fill critical roles, or looking to take your hiring process to the next level, you’ll come away with actionable takeaways that can save your business time, money, and frustration.

3:15 – The “glamour” of Metromont
9:10 – AI and job loss
10:45 – Jason’s background and change of roles over time to find the right fit
17:30 – The difference in perspectives between owners and non-owners in a company
22:15 – Change agents… The more chaos the better?!
26:15 – Wiring vs. growth… Adapting behaviour can happen FOR A TIME AND FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE!
30:10 – Finding common ground
32:10 – How do you hire for a future need?
32:10 – An invaluable lesson from ‘form setters’
42:40 – That ‘new car smell’ that hides rotten eggs
47:00 – Ideal career growth: It starts with communication to ease people into the right place long term
53:10 – Knowing who people are before THEY know who they are and prepping for the interview
58:15 – Some final thoughts on interview #1

Metromont LinkedIn

Jason Woodard LinkedIn

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