The Silent Cost of Waiting Too Long to Hire

Hiring for a key role can feel daunting. You want to be thorough and sure you’ve found the right person. However, in our work with churches and nonprofits, we’ve seen how waiting too long can quietly erode your team’s energy, momentum, and mission. Sometimes, the real cost of hesitation isn’t apparent until it’s already taken a toll.

What happens when hiring stalls?

• Momentum Slips: Projects slow down, innovation stalls, and the team’s energy starts to fade.
• Burnout Grows: Your best people pick up the slack, risking exhaustion and frustration.
• Opportunities Are Missed: New initiatives or outreach efforts get put on hold or missed altogether.
• Talent Moves On: Top candidates won’t wait forever, and you may lose them to organizations that act decisively.

Wondering if it’s time to hire? Here are some signals:

• Your team is stretched too thin or missing key deadlines.
• You’re seeing signs of burnout or turnover.
• Growth is stalling because your team lacks the proper skills or capacity.
• You find yourself saying, “We’ll get to that when we have the right person.”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Slingshot, we’ve helped hundreds of churches and nonprofits find the right leaders at the right time. If you’re sensing it’s time to take the next step, let’s talk about what a healthy, timely hire could unlock for your mission.