Staffing Your Business Like The Wu-Tang Clan...

As we all reflect on the past year, I'm bringing back my favorite Newsletter Post that I wrote in 2022.

Some of my most formative years took place in the early 90s and music was a big part of it.?I started gravitating towards hip-hop and felt like my life changed when I was at summer camp and my friend Ed introduced me to a group called Wu-Tang Clan and the album “Enter The 36 Chambers”.?I wouldn’t even know how to calculate how many times I’ve listened to this album, but anyone reading this has “that” album from their youth.?This became the soundtrack for me and my best friends.?(Side note: The only time I ever cut school, was for the release of Wu’s second album in 1997, sorry Mr. Gooden)

If you’re a Wu fan you should find this rather entertaining.???If you don’t know anything about Wu, my hope is that you still take away value and appreciate my efforts to be creative.

What I’ve put together below, is a playbook for building your team based on the various members/attributes that each member of the Wu-Tang Clan brought together.?

RZA:?This is typically the founder/CEO, the mastermind behind it all.?This person sees the vision of the business well beyond the next 90 days, 6 months, and 1 year.?They understand the bigger picture, they think like an owner, and are razer focused on how to achieve the 5-year plan.?They never stop coming up with new ideas to grow the business.

GZA:?The backbone of the organization, often the CFO or COO.?This person is well-versed in mathematics and finances.?They focus more on the numbers and less on emotion and therefore can be an amazing resource when it comes to making practical or rational decisions.?

Ol’ Dirty Bastard:?There’s no father to this style.?We would likely find this person on the sales or marketing team.?For a start-up company, this role is critical because this person has “irrational confidence”.?They so firmly believe in the mission of the company, and only see success in the future.?Absolutely no one can get in this person’s way and they will scream from the mountaintops to make sure everyone knows about your company.?

Cappadonna:?Sometimes we need an outside consultant who is highly respected to bring deliverables to the team.?For various reasons, financial, and timing, you can’t bring them on full-time yet.?

Inspectah Deck:?Dependable, loyal, and often underrated.?This person could be one of many roles, but I see them handling customer support.?Customers always know they are in good hands.?Think of a lead-off hitter in baseball, this person will be one of your most consistent team members and always make your organization better.?

Masta Killa:?A worker bee.?Someone devoted and solid. Doesn’t have aspirations to be in a leadership role, comfortable within their role, and would like to keep it that way.?Perhaps that person on the sales team isn’t overachieving, but they are always hovering around their goal.?Long term, they help the overall sales team hit their numbers, month after month.?

Raekwon “The Chef”:?I see this role as an executive-level HR person.?They are hardcore and make sure everyone in the organization is professional and keeps it real.?They are not afraid of letting their voice be heard and have no problem speaking their truth to the CEO and other executives.?No “yes man” here.?

U-God: Every organization needs this type of person, the utility player who can serve many roles and while they may want more accolades, they understand their role and how by playing this role, they make the organization better.?They are versatile and loyal, but not to be taken advantage of.?

Ghostface Killah:?A leadership role for sure.?They are an individual who is emotionally charged, and who gets everyone to listen, pay attention, and follow.?They have an uncanny ability to hit you with emotion and motivate you.?

Method Man:?Mad different methods to the way this person gets their work done.?This is your superstar; people describe them as having the “IT” factor.?That unexplainable thing that people gravitate towards.?In your organization, they are likely one of the main faces your customers and prospects see and speak with.

Conclusion:

Should you follow this plan directly, probably not, but understanding how important it is to build a diverse team will be critical to your success.?Find those people who will push you, ones who will be loyal, and ones that will hype your company up.?

So many of the organizations I work with are small businesses and each hire is incredibly important and, in many cases, feels like family.?Guess what, Wu-Tang Clan was built on members being family.?

Now that you have the knowledge, wisdom, and & understanding, remember, Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F Wit & hopefully neither is your organization!

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