There are few things more important in business than quality leadership. Those who hold leadership positions in your company must be enthusiastic, creative, passionate, and able to inspire those who work under them. They must have the experience to make good decisions and generate good ideas. Above all, they must be trustworthy.
When it comes to your leadership team, how much do you know about them? If you’re hiring a new addition to your team, you can’t afford for them to be a potential liability. If you don’t have a lot of experience vetting employees at all levels, including those who are being considered for leadership roles, you need an FCRA compliant background check.
Additionally, there are several reasons why your leadership team—perhaps more so than any other members of your organization—should be thoroughly investigated by a screening professional.
Why Screen Your Leadership Team?
Trust is at the heart of a successful business.
- Your customers have to trust you.
- You have to trust your employees.
- Your employees have to trust the people in charge.
If any link in that chain of trust is broken, the results can be disastrous.
When it comes to your leadership team, using FCRA compliant background checks is essential. Not only must your leaders have the respect and trust of those who work beneath them—though that’s certainly a factor—but no one else in the organization has the potential to do more good or more harm. Unfortunately, the higher up someone is in your company, the greater their ability to do damage. That’s because leaders tend to have:
- Easier financial access: The higher up someone is in your company, the greater access they have to financial assets. This includes—but is by no means limited to—Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). According to a report by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), even though fraud is less often committed by those in the highest positions, it has a much more damaging financial impact when it does occur.
- Greater decision-making ability: The leaders in your company have strategic responsibilities—and make decisions that have repercussions throughout the entire organization. Even if these leaders are not deliberately dishonest, you need to know that they will make decisions in your company’s best interest. FCRA compliant background checks will ensure that you hire only the most qualified leaders.
- An extensive range of influence: The trustworthiness of someone in a position of power is vital for many reasons—but especially because they have greater influence and lead by example. How many wrongs have been committed by those who were “just doing what they were told?” The ability to influence others and give directives to employees is no small thing, and must only be given to those who can be trusted with that power.
- Higher public visibility: In many cases, your leadership team will be the public face of your company. If they act dishonestly or incompetently, their mistakes will be much more visible to the public than those of a lower-ranking employee. Plus, leaders will also be subject to more media scrutiny, with journalists actively looking for ways to dig up dirt. An FCRA compliant background check is essential to ensure that there is no dirt to find.
