First, do no harm! Hire the right people.

The first thing HR or any hiring manager needs to do is hire the right people. Notice I di not say “good” people. I believe to the core of my soul there are very few bad people. Most people who are hired are “good” people. But why are so few “good” people the right hires.
What follows is my tried and true test questions of myself when hiring:

• Does the person fit with our company culture? I am not talking about any external cultural manifestations, I mean core beliefs and actions.
• Will they get along appropriately with others in the firm?
• Will they become bored, or worse, will their ambitions upset the harmony we have achieved. (I know many many firms thrive on dissonance, and I have worked and thrived in them, but MOST companies thrive in accord!
• Will they be satisfied with our company pay, promotion and transfer system?
• Will they criticize or bully others or push to hard for change?
• Will they need constant care (high maintenance) and praise feeding?
• Are they smarter than you, and if so, will they have the grace not to rub that in your face every minute of every day?

After you analyze the above, and you  might make a hire that doesn't exactly fit (be prepared to manage that problem if you judge the reward worth the headache.) then ask?
Do they have the skills, abilities and desires to do the job you ask them to do?
If they don’t, don’t make the hire.