How I Hire: The 4 Secrets to Building a World-Class Team

Everyone knows that if you want your company to be successful, you have to build a world-class team. The problem is, most people don’t know how to do it. There are many clichés that contain truth, like “hire slow, fire fast.” But how can you really know if you’re hiring top notch talent?

When I’m interviewing, there are four characteristics that I always look for to ensure I hire the best people and maintain an excellent company culture.

• Intelligence – In agricultural and industrial economies physical strength is key. In the post-industrial, information economy that most of us live in today, intelligence is the crucial element to look for. At BranchOut we always hire the smartest people we know. We look for teammates who are problem solvers, have great ideas, and are able to articulate those ideas clearly.

• Entrepreneurialism – Fast-growing and innovative companies cannot be burdened with time-intensive training programs or micromanaging. Great teammates know what they need to achieve and they take the initiative to get the job done. They are also willing to put in long hours when required to do so.

• Integrity – Trust is the glue that holds a team together. If there is someone on your team whose values are not in line with those of the company and founding team, troubles may follow. At BranchOut we always look for people who have high integrity. You need to be able to trust that if someone says they are going to do something they will honor their word and get it done.

• Fun – Many of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work, so why not have fun? Teams thrive when everyone enjoys spending time together. In the BranchOut office we are constantly laughing and having fun. If you are an employer and want to create a great culture, the best way to do that is to hire people with great personalities. If you’re a job seeker, make sure you let your personality show through in interviews and your communications.

These four characteristics have worked well for me over the past 12 years of building companies and forming great teams. Whether your hiring top talent or looking to join a new company, remember to check for intelligence, entrepreneurialism, integrity, and fun.

5 months ago  /  21 notes