Making Great Hires; What it Takes to be a Blue Angel

When you're considering a new hire, you'll often size up a candidate in terms of their experience and their skill set. But when you're trying to run a true High Performance team, simply finding skilled people is never going to be enough. You have to ask yourself a crucial question, "Is this person going to be good for our team?"

Blue Angel pilots are hands down the best of the best in the world. During the selection process, your candidates include all the top carrier based fighter pilots and instructors in the Navy, all of whom are qualified in terms of skill. The candidates are amazing pilots or they'd never be considered for one of the most competitive spots in the Navy. But what it takes to be selected and what it takes to be a great Blue Angel, goes far beyond your tactile abilities. 

The Blues have one of the most inherently unforgiving jobs on the planet. They also operate with an overarching mission to be Ambassadors of Goodwill in the world. Accomplishing those two things together requires people who are not only great pilots, but exceptional team members. It takes values like gratitude, commitment and generosity. It takes a willingness to both mentor and learn from those around you. It takes someone who can check their ego at the door and buy into a process and a mindset that is different from anything they've experienced before.

Individual skill will always play a role on your journey toward results. But if your destination is extraordinary success, you're only going to make it there, faster, and TOGETHER! 

Hire for the team!

~Gucci