Building a dream team is no small feat. It requires a blend of talent, synergy, and leadership. Let's delve into the art of assembling a group of individuals who, together, can turn visions into reality.
Decisions relating to people are among the most consequential decisions founders make in the company-building journey.
Talent is your principal asset; hire the right people and they will find solutions to difficult problems, discover business models, recognize new opportunities, build new products, shape company culture, and ultimately recruit other talented people.
- Most leaders assume that most leaders are proactive, thoughtful, and deliberate about the people they hire. However, hiring decisions are frequently made superficially, reactively, and sometimes even impulsively – all in the name of speed.
Closing
If you’ve done the above, and managed to find someone you’re really excited about, do everything in your power to close her/him.
- Share your excitement and reasons for believing in the candidate, write a personal offer letter, and leverage all available resources (board members, advisors, common contacts etc) to help close.
Planning
Look into the future and around corners.
- What are the most important things your company will need to accomplish over the next 18-24 months?
- Where are your capabilities currently strong and where are they weak?
- What does that mean for the capabilities you need to build and the types of people you’ll need to hire?
Identifying and Assessing
Recognize the phase your company is in, as this really impacts the type of people you should hire.
- Don’t hire just for what you need today. Look for people that can take you where you need to go and have seen the part of the journey that lies ahead.
