I don’t know about you, but my chili was perfected, the wings were ordered, and the beverages were cooled in the ice chest. We had a great time sitting down this weekend with friends and loved ones to cheer along our favored team…
Well, my second favorite team. Next to your team, that is.
No matter who you were rooting for last weekend, I want to implore you to pay attention to something: how the winning team functions as a singular entity, rather than a bunch of varied working pieces.
I want you to pay attention to what it takes to build a team that makes it to the Super Bowl. And then, I want you to contemplate how those same lessons can be applied to your hiring methods moving forward.
Involve Team Members In the Interview Process: It is so easy to look through a stack of applicants and arbitrarily pick the “best” of the bunch. The one with the strongest qualifications, the best recommendations, or the most experience. But the thing that fails to take into account is actual fit—will this person work with your current team, or against them? One of the best ways to figure that out is to include key team members in the interview process. Hiring is not just a one-man endeavor, and you can often find out a great deal through group interviews that invite your team to get involved.
Consider Your Current Strengths and Weaknesses: A successful team is one where all your bases are covered. You have the strong runners, the aggressive defense, the QB with an arm—a team doesn’t make it to the Super Bowl without every piece in place, working together like a well-oiled machine. So knowing your current team’s strengths and weaknesses should be the first step in any hiring process. Your next step should be looking for someone who fills in the holes.
Value the Team Players as Much as the All Stars: Sure, we all want to get our hands on that top talent that everyone is vying for, but that should never happen at the expense of your team. After all, an all star can’t single-handedly carry your team to victory—and ego can absolutely get in the way of success. Pay attention to those top tiered applicants and watch for signs of hubris. An all star who knows he or she is an all star, and seems to demand that recognition from you, is far more likely to solicit competing offers from other teams mid-season, step on the toes of your team players, and ultimately, flame out in the end. Don’t let them take your team down in the process.
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