Win The Week: How to Identify the Best Creative Talent

We recently came across a Facebook post by a user named Garfield with the caption, “Only an idiot would enjoy a Monday.” To which one Lianne van Ledden wrote, “I love my job.. so I can't wait to start the week.” Us, too.

At the start of every week, we share one tactic to help you win the week, taken straight from the advice of our interview subjects. Today, Robert Brunner , the founder of Ammunition Group (and the visionary behind products like instant cameras for Polaroid and Beats by Dre ), shares three ways to identify creative talent and potential to bring your company’s ideas to life:

1. Review their Current Work (to See Future Potential)

You’re not only looking to see if it is good–which can be hard for early career employees–but also to see if and how the person has taken and run with the assignment to build something more interesting.

2. Take a Deep Dive on Their Technical Abilities

To evaluate this, ask yourself these key questions: Does the person have an interest in how that thing is made? Do they care deeply about the craft? And will they dedicate themselves to improving their techniques and skills? In Brunner’s line of work, where they build the physical products, he asks potential hires another telling question: Do you mind spending three weeks at a time in the factory? (The answer should be “yes”.)

3. Evaluate Their Character

“I've always looked at wanting philosophical alignment, but cultural and background variance,” said Brunner. “People who bring different viewpoints make a richer community.” Brunner also looks at how that person will interact with his team. “We tend to like people who can check their ego at the door,” he said. “An ego is really important to a strong designer, but you also need to see the bigger picture.”

Read the full interview with Brunner here.