The #1 Truth to Hiring for Success

I was on a flight recently, fiddling with my phone, trying to get an app to work correctly. My six-year-old daughter, who was sitting next to me, reached over the armrest, gently took the phone out of my hands, and said, “Dad, you’re doing it wrong.” (She’s blunt, that little one.) But she was right. I was in fact, doing it wrong, and at that moment, it was evident that my pint-sized techie was clearly smarter than me. 

Having participated in many early staged companies, building a business is quite similar. Whether you have 5 or 75 employees, everyone is working harder, doubling responsibilities and fulfilling new and unforeseen roles. As a result, there are a lot of ups and downs. The team can be very high one day and beyond low the next, always testing the culture of your organization. Survival in most cases is dictated by who you have hired.

At DRIVIN, we want to become the NASDAQ of the used car industry, using a recipe of human capital and data to create a frictionless service for dealers to source, acquire and deliver quality vehicles. We’re building a two-sided network that has never been built before and solving an industry-wide problem for dealers. It’s a big undertaking with no playbook to copy. To make this all work effectively, we hired a world class leadership team and it was methodically created from day one. Having previously learned this the hard way with my fair share of hiring mistakes, I have come to the realization that it’s not my job to be the expert at data, technology, marketing, operations or sales. It is my job to hire the right people to perform these roles and not be afraid or intimidated by their experience. Although early, I believe this is why DRIVIN is succeeding.

To give you a simple analogy, I consider myself the band manager; I assemble the band, get people to the venue and then allow the band to do the show, with the knowledge that the set list will change regularly. I can say with certainty that DRIVIN earned the Moxie award for Chicago’s Best New Startup because of the determination of a hard-working team, comprised of dedicated people who are specialists in their field. We are all “marching to the beat of the same drum.” We are transparent, we are honest, and we have trust in one another.

I have found that the real work begins when you recognize your own limitations, put aside your ego, and make yourself vulnerable to recruit and hire ambitious employees and leaders who not only meet the qualifications for the job, but also enforce the company culture. Done right, they immediately become the true experts within their respective jobs. As the leader of the organization, you step aside and allow them to make the magic happen. It’s my job to keep the larger organization focused and set the pace, tone, and direction.

In the end, as the leader, it’s critical that you allow yourself to be outshined by people who are smarter and more talented, as this creates growth and a stronger organization. Be passionate in finding the A-players and those with exceptional talent, intelligence, and drive. Most importantly, find people that challenge you on a consistent basis, as this will improve your personal skills and experience.

Now, excuse me while I check in with my six-year old and get schooled on using my smartphone more effectively.