Getting the Right People on the Bus

Talking Points:

• Jim Collins offers six things to look for when you’re putting together an all-star team on the court, in business, or anywhere. Find more in his book How the Mighty Fall.
  • Values. Core values are the basic set of beliefs and behaviors that matter to you. Don’t just try to instill your values in someone – look for people who intrinsically value the things that your team values.
  • Motivation. Nobody likes to be around the person who is always dragging. Find someone who doesn’t need you micromanage them, but somebody who’s a self-starter and is motivated to get the job done – even without you on looking over their shoulder.
  • Ownership. The true sign of a liberated person is not recklessness, but ownership. Look for people who are willing to take responsibility for their actions. They’re not viewing their role as just a job – they truly take ownership of what’s going on and what they’re producing.
  • Commitment. The signature of mediocrity is not consistently poor performance, but a lack of commitment to consistent habits. Find people who are committed – who go beyond the hype and actually follow through on tasks.
  • Passion. Find people who have passion for what they’re doing. You can’t teach someone intensity or passion – they either have it or they don’t. They pour their life out for the task because they were made to do it.
  • Maturity. Collins talks about finding someone who has something he calls “window and mirror maturity:” when something goes really well, he looks through the window and points at all those other team members who did that thing, and when something goes poorly, he looks in the mirror and recognizes his part in the problem.