In this episode of The LVR Podcast, Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze welcome back Steve Sharp for a deep dive into one of the most challenging parts of growing a broking business — hiring the right people.
Steve makes the case early that most brokers are approaching recruitment backwards. They hire in desperation, hunt for technical skills, and ignore the social and cultural dimension entirely. The result? A high performer who's a narcissist, a team dynamic that falls apart, and a business owner who swears off hiring for the next two years. The fix isn't complicated, but it does require honesty — about what your team actually needs, what kind of leader you are, and whether you genuinely have the time, capacity, and skill to coach someone up.
The conversation covers three key hiring principles: timing your hire before you're desperate, prioritising culture and trust over pure technical competence, and being brutally honest with yourself about your ability to invest in a new team member once they walk through the door.
Steve also shares two powerful interview questions worth stealing immediately: ask candidates to talk about their upbringing, and ask them to describe their ideal workplace environment. The words they choose reveal far more than any skills-based question ever will.
The episode closes with a simple but memorable framework: hire slow, fire fast — and if it doesn't work out, treat it as a learning opportunity and go again.
Thank You To Our Hosts: Ruan Burger and Marissa Schulze
More From Marissa and her company, Rise High Financial Solutions:
More From Ruan and his company, Success and Broker:
