Q&A: Staff input in hiring decisions

Q: I need to hire a new office manager. Should I invite my other key employees to interview the final candidates?

A: A better option would be to consider inviting each candidate in to observe for a day. This would give your staffers a relaxed way to interact with him or her without giving them too much say in who gets hired. The more relaxed approach also could help reveal strengths, weaknesses, or other characteristics that may not have come up during your formal interview. And the candidates themselves will get a better feel for the realities of the position.