The moment of truth in the hiring process is the point when you choose who will get the job. Because hiring mistakes can be costly, a lot is riding on your ability to select the best people for your available positions. If you find yourself constantly second-guessing your hiring decisions, you may want to take a close look at the process you're using in making your final choices. Here is some advice for small businesses owners:

• Gather all the facts. Don't let time constraints or the urge to move ahead too quickly keep you from collecting enough data to make an intelligent, informed choice. The more data you gather, the better your ability to let objectivity trump subjectivity in your decision.
• Make sure you're legal. The final hiring decision is another one of those legally sensitive areas. Don't be your own lawyer. Legally complex (and potentially costly) issues require a case-by-case evaluation by your own attorney.
• Brainstorm options. After you have sufficient information, generate several possible courses of action. You may perform this step alone – as in an emergency situation when fast action is of the essence – or in consultation with your colleagues.
• Ask yourself the right questions. After you determine several possible courses of action, ask the following questions about each one: Are the risks involved acceptable? Are the costs in line with, or do they outweigh, the potential benefits? Will this option have the support of others?
• Take action. Don't become so paralyzed by the prospect of unforeseen consequences of your decision that you fail to make one at all. Procrastination leads to decision-making by default – so much time elapses that the choices are narrowed to the point where only one course of action is viable.
• Evaluate your decisions. After you've made a choice, remember to objectively assess the results. If it turns out that you made a less than optimal decision, don't despair. You can turn negative outcomes into learning opportunities that can actually strengthen your decision-making skills and enable you to make better choices in the future.