The Backdoor Reference & the Blind Spot
Why the answer you’re looking for is often closer than you think
We’re close to finalizing an offer for a senior executive. I won’t share the exact title—confidential search but what I can say is that the President leading the charge is razor-sharp. Methodical. Misses nothing.
He asked for references. Then?
He asked for backdoor references.
💡 Backdoor references are those off-the-record calls to people the candidate didn’t list.
They’re often more insightful than the standard “three you prepped.”
Let’s be honest. No one puts someone on their reference list who will say,
“Eh, they were average.”
So I tapped into my network. Found someone I knew well.
Strangely enough, this person also knew the candidate and had worked with them directly.
Even better? The President also knew this same person.
The validation he was looking for?
It was in front of him the whole time.
So here’s the real question:
How often do we search far and wide for answers that are already right in front of us?
We think it has to be complicated.
We think the solution must be outside our current network.
We overthink. Oversearch. Over-engineer.
Whether you’re:
Hiring your next executive,
Looking for your next opportunity,
Or trying to solve a big challenge…
Don’t ignore what’s close.
The insight, connection, or next great hire could be your neighbor.
An old classmate. A LinkedIn connection.
A friend-of-a-friend you’ve already met.
The world is smaller than you think.
And sometimes, the best answers are the ones hiding in plain sight.