I like to think of a company as an organism (legal representations aside). Like any healthy organism it is important to maintain a healthy diet, and that starts with the people you bring into your company. Having now worked for a variety of organization types, there are a few consistent needs I’ve noticed:
Define your organization’s values. Not only will they set expectations with your existing employees, they will serve as goal posts for hiring new employees.
Remember your mission. Everyone you hire in the organization is, or should be, working towards the same overall goals.
Skill is only one attribute. You can hire smart people, but if you can’t work with them effectively, they’re useless or can actually cause harm.
Your culture is sacred: treat it that way. That means addressing people issues immediately to protect the organization as a whole.
Variety makes life interesting! Building a diverse team can yield unexpectedly wonderful results!
Easier to implement when your organization is smaller and/or growing, but vital nonetheless. Keep your company healthy.
